Jean Blanchard

The bagpipe tradition of central France continues to be thoroughly explored by Jean Blachard. Furthermore to dealing with such rings as La Bamboche and Gentiane, Blanchard provides performed with as much as 400 musicians at the same time. He produced the Quintet of Bagpipes in 1992, as well as the Huge Music group Of Bagpipes, an orchestra of hurdy-gurdies and cornemuses, in 1995. He presently works together with La Quadrette, an ensemble that he produced with Portuguese guitarist, Jean-Pierre Simonnet, dual bassist Estelle Amsellem, and flute participant Jeremie Mignotte. Blanchard initial attracted interest in 1976, when he released an record, Accordeon Diatonique, of traditional melodies that he gathered from such resources as Francois Vidalenc.