Being a huge Jean-Michel Veillon fan, and loving the Breton tradition (my first exposure to ‘tradtional Celtic music’ was Kornog), I was wondering if there are any other flute players from Brittany (or anywhere, really) who have recordings out there of traditional Breton music?
I know John Skelton is a big proponent of Breton music, and I assume Desi Wilkinson is also, being fast friends with J-M Veillon. Is there signifigant Breton material on any of their CD’s? Any other players, I haven’t heard of?
There are quite a few really excellent flute players in Brittany. There was a compilation CD, Bro Dreger VII, put out some years back that featured some of the leading flute players in Brittany at the time.
Apart from Sylvain Barou, who hangs out here on Chiff and Fipple occasionally, two of the names that come immediately to mind are:
Jean-Luc Thomas: amazing, innovative flute player who lives near Jean-Michel Veillon in northern Brittany; has recorded with the groups Dibenn and Hastan and his own wild solo CD Kej (not much of it traditional Breton but an enjoyably bizarre and frequently breathtaking experience to listen to). He’s also recorded on “Flute 4,” a flute quartet album with Jean-Michel Veillon…I’m not sure if that’s been released yet but I heard a couple of tracks last year and it’s great. More info about Jean-Luc Thomas at:
John Skelton plays a couple of Breton tunes on his newest CD (Double-Barreled). He’s joined by Kieran O’Hare for some great flute duets.
Skelton also played in The House Band, and most of their albums have a Breton flavor, and are worth having (IMO, anyway). John plays both flute and bombarde on these albums.
If I could sound like Veillon does on his album Beo!, I’d be a happy, happy man . . .
Interested to hear what others have to say, too; I wish Breton music were more readily available in the U.S.
Dusty Strings, near Seattle (in Fremont), has a very good selection of Breton music and I think they do mail order. That’s the best source I’ve found, although Elderly Instruments also had a good selection last time I checked.
Jean - Michel is the only person I have come across who can go from the bottom of the flute to the top in one note , (even when sober ).I shall ask him if he will favour us with his recommendations .He must have a couple of hundred fluty followers .
If you’re interested in history, Alain Kloatr was one of the first to bring transverse wooden flute into Breton music. He didn’t delve into it as deep as JMV though. You can hear samples on early Alan Stivell albums which can get you into the whole “Breton Revival” frame of mind.
is what usually comes to mind