eric ollu

Music is the shortest way from one heart to an other. It is also the expression of the emotions, it is linked to the soul.

Eric Ollu is a self-taught musician who started playing the bombarde(1) in 1977.

In 1981 he met Jean Coadou, a bombarde and biniou coz(2) player from the centre of Brittany, and they played together in festou-noz(3) for 5 years. In this couple Eric mainly played the biniou coz.

In the meantime, Eric met a few senior bombarde and biniou players and singers from "kreiz Breiz"(4) such as Jean Coatéval, Yann Thomas, Yffig Com, Bastien Guern, Pierre Poher … from who he learnt and collected a lot.

In 1987, he made his compulsory military service with the bagad(5) of Lann Bihoué.

In 1988, back to civil life, he met Jean-François Le Coz, a bombarde player from Douarnenez, and together they started playing for weddings and festou-noz.

They also took part in a few competitions: winners in Quimperlé in 1991 (Aven style), 1^st prize for dance at the Per Guillou Trophy (Mountain style or gavotte style), Champions of the Aven gavotte competition in Concarneau in 1991, 1992 and 1993. They made a record for the Warl'eur confederation. They still play together today.

In 1991, Eric integrated the band "Tud": he swapped his bombarde for a self-made baroque oboe.

In 1995, he met Louise Ebrel, a Breton-folk-song-singer. They gave several concerts together in Brittany.

The same year, Eric played with a jazz band in Rennes "Le sentiment des …", that he left 2 years later.

In 1996, he met Dominig Bouchaud (1^st prize for harp at the National Higher Conservatory of music in Paris, 1^st prize Kan ar Bolb in 1980) during the Alexandre Louët competition in Elliant, as both of them were members of the jury. They gave many concerts together, in Italy and in Brittany, and sometimes with Louise Ebrel.

In 1998, he met Erwan Tanguy, a gwerz(6) singer and they have in mind the making of a CD.

Finally, 1999 … the supreme consecration ! On the first of May, Eric was asked by the uncontested masters of festou-noz in Brittany, the group Skolvan, to act as replacement, and, in August after an unforgettable performance during the Lorient Interceltic Festival, he became the official substitute of the band.

... in concert with TUD

"Self-taught musician, so true is it that Breton folk music can not be learnt in books. Very young I started listening to my country which has filled my heart and my soul, and I have let myself become permeated at the mercy of the meetings with the last old oral-tradition-keepers who made me understand the folk culture in everyday life: "shut up and open your…", " be quiet, listen and learn."

Eric Ollu.

Eric, who is passionately fond of the making of Breton music instruments, creates all his binious, bombardes and baroque oboes himself.

He is very skilful in making or copying old carved instruments. He has improved this skill thanks to Yann Gall, an instrument makers well known for the copying of old models, from Pont L'Abbé.

Eric is also a biniou and bombarde instructor during training courses, or an instructor in reed making during special courses. Besides, he performs for weddings and other parties.

Tud, deus Kerne, (Escalibur 851)

Real Audio (demo) Gavottes des montagnes Hanter dro Suite de l'Aven, gavotte

Louise Ebrel, Gwerz ha Kan a Boz (Kerig 104)

Tud, la plume de paon, (Tud 002)

mp3 (demo) Ridees (demo).mp3 Suite fisel (demo).mp3 Real Audio (demo) Ronde de Saint Vincent Gavottes des montagnes An dro

Penn Golo, splamb! (PG01)
 

E-mail: eric.ollu@wanadoo.fr
Phone: (+33) 02.98.70.07.21 or (+33) 06.62.42.07.21

old players
(bombarde - biniou coz)

1. Bombarde: a Breton instrument originally played with the biniou coz, it is a type of hight pitched flute.

2. Biniou coz: kind of pipe but of smaller size

3. Festou-noz: Breton dance (like Ceilies in Ireland)

4. Kreiz Breiz: Breton for "the centre of Brittany"

5. Bagad: breton band with bombardes, pipes and drums.

6. Gwerz: Breton ballad

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