Jean-Marie Redon: mandocello, bouzouki ; Sharon Lombardi: Mandolin, bodhrán, e-Bass
Instruments used for these recordings
Jean-Marie plays a Dominique Bouges mandocello. This instrument is one of the first made by Dominique. Since then, he has settled in Burgundy, where he has continued to produce mainly guitars and host lutherie workshops. The bouzouki used on “Phosphène” is a Marc Boluda, a luthier based in Provence who is renowned in Celtic music circles for the quality of his stringed instruments. On “Oh’ Jamais Trop Trad“, Jean-Marie plays another bouzouki. He had been looking for one for a long time and finally discovered a luthier living just twenty minutes from his home: Jérôme Relhié, who specializes in making mandolas and bouzoukis. Furthermore, Jérôme has extensive experience in Irish music, which he plays on the mandola. Jean-Marie and Sharon became good friends with him, and they regularly get together for Irish sessions at home.
Sharon plays an Agustín Zubiaga mandolin. Agus, based in Bilbao, plays bluegrass banjo and is a longtime friend. He makes high-quality mandolins and banjo necks. Jean-Marie thought a Zubiaga mandolin would make a wonderful birthday present for Sharon. She plays a bodhrán made by François Nicolas, who is based in Brittany. François is highly respected and well regarded in the world of Celtic percussion. Her electric bass, an unusual blend of a Jazz Bass and a Precision, is a Valley & Blues model.
The stories behind these titles.
“Phosphène” Jean-Marie first recorded this composition on the album Banjo 82, in 1982, as its name suggests. It was covered by the Scottish band Bongshang in 1993. Later, Jean-Marie recorded it again with the eponymous band in the late 1990s. In fact, he drew inspiration from that recording’s arrangement to make this video, adapting it for our instruments: mandocello and mandolin.
“Oh’ Jamais Trop Trad” We felt the need to add a more uptempo track after “Phosphène”. We needed to compose an original piece in the spirit of Irish music… and it turned out to be a jig.
After many years spent playing bluegrass, and given that there were no longer any musicians around us interested in this music genre, we naturally turned to Irish music, and we take great pleasure in discovering and playing it.
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