Press Quotes

"Celtic music wizard" -Minneapolis Star Tribune

"A performing artist of astonishing versatility, singing and playing with skill and emotion a splendid repertoire." -American Association of University Women

"Laura MacKenzie is a master of all things bellowed and blown." -Dirty Linen magazine

"MacKenzie's vocals - strong, clear and lilting - are another plus." -Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Attending a concert in which Laura appears is a treat for the ears and the eyes." -Upper Midwest Flute Association

"Laura MacKenzie is a jewel in the Twin Cities crown of Celtic players." -Irish Gazette

"MacKenzie plays an array of ancient pipes, whistles and concertina that add an unusual beauty and elegance." - Minneapolis Star Tribune

For the recordings:

"Experienced U.S. multi-instrumentalist steps out with a pair of releases...Wielding an array of whistles, pipes and concertina, she balances prodigious abilities with a maturity and overall expertise...Extremely worthwhile." -fROOTS

"MacKenzie maintains the magic. Her lovely soprano shines...and her piping, both Scottish smallpipes and the little heard French cornemuse, is deft. Taken together these recordings are a delight, and bring a remarkable musician to a wider audience." -Sing Out!

"On both discs the sound is crisp and the arrangements bright, and the versatile MacKenzie plays everything with grace and skill." -Dirty Linen magazine

"The sheer polish in her playing on these two recordings is very impressive....Laura and the Lads is the more lively while Evidence is the more lovely." -Green Man Review


For the CD Laura and The Lads:

"A really enjoyable listen...it gets your feet moving from the outset - and, as with much great Celtic music, it makes you feel happy and uplifted." "A very impressive musician...an amazing array of instruments." "The input of the 'Lads' really does reinforce the excellence of MacKenzie's musicianship." -Rambles

For the CD Evidence:

"The majority of the pieces are instrumental, showcasing MacKenzie's amazing command of a vast array of instruments. The playing and arrangements are very bright and cheery, in a calming way. They evoke images of a quiet, green forest with a waterfall....Her skill on this many instruments is staggering. This is the perfect CD to listen to on a rainy day, curled up with a nice cup of tea. It is an album that will lift the blues, calm you and transport you to a sunny, green forest. What more could you possibly want?" -Rambles

"Lovely lines and excellent wind playing." - Green Man Review


From Lifescapes:

"In my little black book of musicians and writers there's an entire page dedicated to Laura MacKenzie. Few musicians are persistent and talented enough to become accomplished at more than one instrument in a lifetime. It's common to find a great fiddle player that 'sort of" plays mandolin and guitar. Thus, 'multi-instrumentalist' has become a casual term for a musical jack-of-all-trades. Laura is a blinding exception to that trend. I have been blessed by her talents on many occasions. It doesn't seem to matter if she's playing penny whistles, wooden flutes, Scottish smallpipes, border pipes, concertina or singing; she's among the greatest talent my ears have ever heard. Through intense study her gentle spirit has gained mastery over some of the world's more difficult instruments to play. I am not alone in believing that when Laura plays she has a spirit that sings with such beauty that the audience, in the studio, in the music hall or at home listening to her CDs is blissfully kissed by enchantment." -Paul Frantzich, Executive Producer, Compass Productions