Eilidh Mackenzie - Bel Canto: Award-winning American author Ann Patchett used the term “Bel Canto” (an Italian term meaning beautiful singing)  for her novel , published in 2001. Eilidh has taken Patchett’s story, transferred it to Gaelic Scotland and composed a song cycle of 14 original tracks around the narrative themes of love, music, identity, language and communication. A starry line-up of musicians on this album with Brian McAlpine piano, the lynch-pin for the song cycle. Ged Grimes, ex Danny Wilson and now Deacon Blue, provides bass while the string section of Gordon Gunn on fiddle and Christine Hanson on cello complete the core band line up. Instrumental colour is added by Allan Macdonald on moothie and Terry Small on guitar. In addition to Eilidh on vocals, guest singers include Michael Marra, Elizabeth MacCormick, James Graham, Anna Meldrum, Eilidh’s sisters Gillian and Fiona ‘Gress’ Mackenzie and Eddi Reader.