The Chris Norman Ensemble The Caledonian Flute.(Brief Article)(Sound Recording Review)

Boxwood 902

The Caledonian Flute is as good as any Celtic music album you're likely to hear. What makes Chris Norman so special is his total command of both his instrument and of a tune's demands. He's not afraid to leave spaces in the music, as he does on the opening pieces of "Highlands Dances," in which there's enough open air to allow James Blachly's bass to ring, Andy Thurston's well-placed guitar chords to echo, or Simeon Darley-Chapin's cymbals to crash and his snare lines to grab hold. Nor is Norman afraid to hold onto a note for an inordinately long time to…