Biography

Jake Walton was one of the first to help with the Hurdy Gurdy and Dulcimer revival in the UK in the mid 70's.

``I first remember Jake Walton as a shy teenager playing his Gibson J45 at the legendary Folk Cottage at Mitchell in Cornwall. Plainly influenced by the music of Donavan he already developed a delicate finger style and clear diction in his singing.

The most outstanding feature for me though, was his commitment to the spirituality of the music he was playing. His attraction to Arthurian legend and his inferences from Donavan's dreamy album Sunshine Superman led him in to the world of Celtic myth and legend. This was long before the Celtic thing became a cause with 'band-wagonning' from those eager to climb aboard. For Jake it was a totally natural progression, a journey that has led to collaborations with Wizz Jones, Jez Lowe, Eric Liorzou and Stephen Cooney and the patience to learn the music of the Hurdy Gurdy.

In spite of some divergence, a long period away from live work and a severing of partnerships with those with ambitions toward different goals, Jake's has been a single minded quest and pretty much a solo one with only the barest nod to 'career'. The words that most come to mind when others talk of Jake are those that speak of his purity of intent.

Jake employs an unforced gentle approach toward the poetry and music that fall into his criteria, hence we see John Macefields' deeply moving poem 'The West Wind' set to music and included here.

This is a beautifully wrought album from a man of Cornwall. Proud of the inspiration this Celtic corner of England has brought him and confident in it's contribution to the music of other Celtic nations. Jake offers the story of the island of Emain''.......Ralph McTell

Eric Liorzou

Collaborator and Friend

Biography

Eric began playing guitar at the age of 10 and shortly after, studied Scottish drumming with the Kevrenn St Mark (Breton equivalent of the Pipe Band )

1973 Became a member of the Breton band Bleizi Ruz and strummed his guitar in the festou-noz ( Breton Ceilidh )

1979 Bleizi Ruz were now a professional festival and touring band. Eric met Jake Walton during the Celtic Tour in Germany in 1980 .

1986 Bleizi Ruz's first American tour.

1991 Took part in the Irish Folk Festival touring with Jake, Altan, Andy M Stewart and other acclaimed artists performing over 30 concerts in Germany.

1993 For their 20th anniversary, Bleizi Ruz created the show 'Hent Sant Jakez' ( the roads to Santiago de Compostela ) that they performed all over Europe. Voted best show in St Chartier Festival and best record by European folk radios

1996 Recorded and produced the new Bleizi Ruz album. More tours and Festou-noz.

1998 Celebrated 25 years of Bleizi Ruz with more recordings of various artists from Brittany and ...Cuba!

1999 Recorded the New Bleizi Ruz album and the new Jake Walton album, Emain.

2002 Embarked upon a lot of studio work with the breton singer Jean Luc Roudaut and gigs with his old friend Patrick Ewen. Jake and Eric rejoin The Irish Folk Festival tour for 36 concerts in Germany, Swizerland and France.

2004 Eric has recently finished recording the music for a film about the roads to Santiago de Compostela. As well as working on a duo album with the pianist Alain Rouquette.( Glenmor, Kemia , Den ...)

And more to come ....

Discography :

With BLEIZI RUZ /10 CDS

With JAKE WALTON / 5 CDS

With JL ROUDAUT / 5 CDS

With LEILIA / 1 CD

With HOPI HOPKINS / 1 CD

With MANU PARISELLE and CHRISTIAN MAES / 1 CD

With JAKEZ LE BORGNE / 1 CD