Gunhild Carling performing at the Frankie 100 celebration in Central Park. YouTube
Whether you love them or you hate them, you have to admit that bagpipes have a certain reputation. Mournful dirges, solemn ceremonies, taking the high road or the low road – those are a few of the things we associate with the famous wind instrument.
Swing music that makes you want to get right up out of your chair and grab the nearest dance partner?
Not so much.
But Gulhild Carling, a Swedish jazz musician, has discovered a whole new sound and mood for the bagpipes. Bet you’ve never heard the bagpipes sound quite like this before!
The video above is a “Bagpipe blues” performance in Central Park. You can also check her earlier virtuoso skills in the video below, from 2007: