Blowzabella
Blowzabella is an English folk band that plays hurdy-gurdy tunes , bagpipes , melodeons and numerous other acoustic instruments. The sound of their driving, powerful dance music is based on the sound of drones , is influenced by British and European traditional dance music and largely dispenses with rhythmic instruments such as percussion , drums, etc. They are considered a style-forming band in European folk music , which has drawn numerous epigones .
history
The band was formed in 1978 in ( London ) by Bill O'Toole ( bagpipes , flute ) from Sydney ( Australia ), Jonathan Swayne (bagpipes, flute) from Glastonbury , Dave Armitage ( melodeon , bombarde , percussion), Sam Palmer (bagpipes) and Chris Gunstone ( Bouzouki , Tapan - Central Asian frame drum) founded. The band's name comes from a popular dance piece in London from the late 17th century.
The musicians either came from London or lived there at the time. The first tunes were also significantly influenced by Juan Wijngaard ( hurdy-gurdy , Flemish bagpipes). Bill O'Toole later returned to Australia, but Dave Roberts (melodeon, percussion), Cliff Stapleton and Paul James (bagpipes, saxophone ) joined the group. With this line-up the first, as yet nameless, record was recorded. Since then, the composition of the group has seen numerous changes.
At the end of the 1990s, alongside Paul James and Jon Swayne, Jo Freya (saxophone, vocals), Dave Shepperd (violin), Ian Luff (bass, cister ), Andy Cutting (melodeon) and Nigel Eaton (hurdy-gurdy). The band split in 1990, but performed together on appropriate occasions.
On the 25th anniversary of the band in 2003, the official reunification took place. Grégory Jolivet replaced Nigel Eaton, Ian Luff was followed by Barn Stradling (bass guitar).
Current occupation
- Andy Cutting - Diatonic Button Accordion
- Jo Freya - clarinet, saxophone
- Paul James - bagpipes, saxophone
- Grégory Jolivet - hurdy-gurdy
- David Shepherd - violin
- Barn Stradling - bass guitar
- Jon Swayne - bagpipes, saxophone
Discography
- Blowzabella, 1982
- In Color, 1983
- Bobbityshooty, 1984 (reissue 1998)
- Tam Lin ( Frankie Armstrong and Blowzabella), 1984
- Wall Of Sound, 1986 (reissue 1996)
- The B to A of Blowzabella, 1986
- A Richer Dust, 1988, (reprint 1996)
- Pingha Frenzy (live on tour in Brazil), 1988
- Vanilla, 1990
- Compilation (1982-1990), 1995
- Octomento, 2007
- Dance, 2010
- Strange News, 2013
bibliography
- Encyclopaedia Blowzabellica. Blowzabella tune and dance book. Dragonfly Music, 1986.
- New Tunes for Dancing. Blowzabella tune and dance book, 2004, ISBN 0-9549013-0-4 , ISMN M-9002107-0-8.