ONE OF THE premier Celtic violinists on the international music scene today, Jamie Laval consistently creates rapt audiences with his intensely passionate performances that run the gamut from tender and melancholy to wildly jubilant.

Winner of the 2002 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championship, Jamie was recently heralded in Scotland as “A new star for the Old World” (FiddleOn Magazine). The Olympian newspaper reported, “A fantastic fiddler… Laval captures the essence of Celtic sentiment and yearning.” And Virginia concert promoter Deborah Greer raved, “I’ve been producing shows here for 10 years and I have never seen a standing ovation after the first tune. Unbelievable! I have never seen a better band on this stage.”

Major performances include the Freight & Salvage in California, Swallow Hill Productions in Colorado, Club Passim in Boston, the Northwest Folklife Festival’s Fiddler Showcase in Seattle, the Scots Fiddle Festival in Edinburgh, and a private appearance for Her Majesty the Queen of England.

In the recording arena Jamie is widely respected for his solos on the movie soundtracks Wild America, Finding Home, Emmy-nominated theme for the TV drama Everwood, and for his participation in Dave Matthews CD Some Devil.

Jamie’s solo CD Shades of Green has received unanimous critical praise and nationwide radio airplay, eliciting reviews such as, “tune after tune evokes an ancient tradition of Ireland, Scotland, and Brittany… Fiona’s Waltz is one of the most moving fiddle pieces I’ve heard in a long time.” (Albany Democrat Herald)

Radio hosts enjoy Jamie’s affable, fun, relaxed manner on their live broadcasts. Recent feature programs include Folk Scene with Roz & Howard Larman, The Beat with Dave Beck (KUOW-Seattle), John Standidge’s Please Stand By (KPIG-Watsonville, CA), Dave Carter’s Studio One (WETS-Knoxville, TN), Derk Richardson’s Hear and Now (KPFA-Berkeley, CA), and many others.

Jamie’s music making is born out of his Scottish and Irish heritage. After his student years at the Victoria Conservatory of Music he traveled extensively, immersing himself in a wide variety of musical styles including classical, jazz, and folk. Jamie now resides in Asheville, North Carolina and performs throughout the U.S. with mandolinist Ashley Broder.