"Flight", the debut solo album from champion fiddler and multistyle violinist Mari Black, takes listeners on an eclectic journey through dance-driven music from around the world. The album features selections that both celebrate tradition and explore new possibilities in Scottish, Irish, Cape Breton, bebop, Old Tyme, and Québécois folk music, as well as Mari’s original compositions. The tracks all share a sense of rising energy and boundlessness. In Mari’s own words, “Flight is a compilation of my favorite and most treasured ‘flying tunes’ -- music that takes my feet off the ground and puts my head in the clouds. I have selected these tunes because they come from all over the world and all over time, from old traditionals to beautiful contemporary melodies. What they all have in common is their power to move us, both physically and emotionally.” As an artist, Mari Black is equally at home in a wide variety of musical traditions, including jazz, tango, folk, Western classical, as well as Celtic, American, and Canadian fiddling. Her energetic playing, engaging stage presence, and commitment to bringing people together take listeners on a musical journey exploring the diversity and celebrating commonalities in the dance-driven folk musics of the world. Mari is the reigning National U.S. Scottish Fiddle Champion, the 2012 Maritime Fiddle Champion, the 2011 Canadian Open Novelty Fiddle Champion, and first prize winner at the 2011 International American Protégé Competition. She can be seen performing in all corners of the music world -- one week headlining at a Celtic Highland Games or an Argentine tango festival, and the next taking the stage for a jazz concert series or a world-famous classical concert venue like Carnegie Hall. Mari has appeared with artists such as Mark O’Connor and Willie Ruff in live performance and national media broadcast, including Fox and CBS news and NPR’s “Here and Now.” In addition to her concert appearances, Mari is dedicated to education, teaching at various fiddle camps and giving guest lectures at the Yale School of Music, Boston University School of Fine Arts, New York City’s School for Strings, and more. She earned her Master’s Degree from the Yale School of Music, and her Doctorate from Columbia University.