Calendar : (see the concert page for more info)

SKOLVAN - LIVE IN ITALIA

LIVE IN ITALIA
New CD 2004

SKOLVAN
designates the name of a « gwerz »

A variant of this song appears in the “Barzaz Breiz” under the title Iannick Skolan. In its commentary, La Villemarqué refers to the “Livre Noir de Camarthen”, a Gallic manuscript from the 11th century who is today to be found at the National Library of Wales (Aberystwyth). A study has been carried out by donatien LAURENT in the Revue Ethnologique Francaise (1971).

Extract from Yann-Fanch KEMENER’s book «Carnets de route» Ed.Skol Vreizh
 

 

Founded in 1984, has been one of the mainspring of the Breton music’s revival. This period is essential because of the great work made by the musicians in order to safeguard the traditional music in Brittany, an heritage in peril then. Youenn LE BIHAN tried in this context the experiment of a group by invinting two teachers (violin and accordion) from the Conservatoire of traditional music of Ploemeur, such as the guitarist Gilles LE BIGOT. SKOLVAN was born with its first “Fest-Noz” (Gathering of dancers and musicians) on the 14th of April 1984. Youenn LE BIHAN created at the same time his famous “Piston”, inspired by the baroque oboe, that counts largely in the originality of the SKOLVAN “sound”.

In 1994, after three albums, SKOLVAN released "Swing & Tears" which was elected album of the year in France, in the United Kingdom and in Portugal.
Among the guests was Dominique MOLARD, a percussionist, who finally joined the group in 1996, developping thus the palette of sounds and the colour of the rhytms, thanks to tablas, cajon, derbouka, bodhran associated with drums. In 1996, SKOLVAN comes back with a creation called “Gouel ha daeroù”, gathering traditional singers and jazz musicians, unanimously applauded by the audience and the critics.

In 2000, "Chenchet'n eus an amzer", their last album, conveys the group’s musical evolution since the arrival, in 1997, of Bernard LE DREAU (saxophones). At the beginning of the year 1999, Loig TROEL (diationic accordion) joins the group, bringing with him his virtuosity and energy. A new sound such as a new repertoire appear with the new group.

Nowadays unanimously recognized as one of the leaders of the actual music, SKOLVAN stands out because of the beauty of its themes (traditionals, composed) and the richness of its arrangements, associated with a really effective rhytmics, which gives it an easily recognizable personality. Greatly appreciated by the dance lovers during the “Festou-Noz”, SKOLVAN also offers CONCERTS

 

 

SKOLVAN BIG BAND

 

SKOLVAN in its « BIG BAND » form is composed of ten musicians. The group took on a brass section composed of Gaby KERDONCUFF (trompet), Jean Pierre LE DREAU (Trompet), Jean-Philippe LE COZ (Trombone), Guy DUVERGET (Trombone, “Sacqueboute”) and Gildas CLAQUIN (Tenor saxophone), developing axis of research around the “SWING”. 

This wish of adding brass to the music was yet present on the album Swing & Tears, released in 1994.
The arrival of Bernard LE DREAU (Soprano sax) in 1997 has been determining in the continuation of SKOLVAN’s processes, with a work on the melody, the harmony, the rhytmics, the improvisation and the orchestration. The last album Chenchet neus an amzer demonstrates it. The appearance on stage of the SKOLVAN BIG BAND is always a great event and fills the public with a great enthousiasm.

2002 was the year of the confirmation of the meeting between the traditional Breton music and jazz, through a real work of musical writing. Indeed, in November SKOLVAN played at the PICCOLO TEATRO - TEATRO STREHLER, in MILAN (Italy) during the event « Orchestra Senza Confini » with the CIVICA JAZZ BAND from the Jazz music school of Milan.