Breton Folk band Gwendal

Gwendal the speed of the Elvin

Across the channel in France a gifted group called Gwendal ploughed into traditional arrangements with flute and fiddle, with inception in 1972. Gwendal launched their Irish Jig debut in 1974 which at that stage featured the first guitarist J-M Renard with Roger Schaub on bass. The completed French showcase of troubadours included high speed violinist Bruno Barre, mandolinist Patrice Grupallo and flautist Youenn Le Berre (bombards, bagpipes) to produce sounds in the spirited reverence of the Breton custom. The title track “Irish Jig” and “Planxty-Bark” which harkens to the rhythms of Alan Stivell are sheer glory, while the jacket of the giant playing bombard was Gwendal’s emblem for years to come One year later Irish Jig was followed with another trad album called Joe Can’t Reel that opened up far more lavishly, allowing mandolinist Grupallo far more scope. Highlights include the mesmerising reel “An Dro” in the same tune as Deby Grosjean’s “O’er The Moor. Amongst The Heather” or even more seductive the flute floating “Benoit”. The album has a pure melodic crust, even without vocals, beautifully captured on “Rue Du Musc” and “Gallway Hills”.

At this point this highly underrated instrumental sextet would progress into the outer parallels of jazz and go electric with guitarist Ricky Caust, as featured on their “Mon Joli Scooter”, a 17-min journey of derivative styles from the 1976 Rainy Day. The title track and a stirring version of the Scottish Geordie anthem “Cam Ye Ower Frae France” are some of the speediest jig (Barre) flute (Le Barre) solos I’ve ever heard, a mite faster than Fairport’s Swarbrick or Steeleye Span’s Kemp. Arnaud Rogers would also step in on drums, only to be replaced in 1979 for The Gull’s Flight by Olivier Pedron. Ex Weidorje guitarist Francois Ovide who started out with the politically leftist So & Co and Plat Du Jour replaced Caust for Gwendal In Concert recorded in Madrid in 1981. Francois also appeared on the bulk of Albert Marcoeur’s recordings and appeared in John Greaves’ Parrot Fashions. In hindsight the overall strength of the group was definitively flautist Youenn Le Berre who played everything from bombards to bagpipes (“Glen River”). Gwendal were boundless with a further nine albums over the next 15years. Gwendal are the timeless splendour of what was and should be, in the same gallant fashion as maestro Marcel Dadi.