Tri Yann

Tri Yann is a Breton band from Nantes, France, who play folk rock music drawing on traditional Breton folk ballads.

The band was founded in 1971 by Jean Chocun, Jean-Paul Corbineau and Jean-Louis Jossic – all of whom remain members – hence the suggested name of Tri Yann an Naoned (Breton for "Three Johns of Nantes"), Jean and Yann being respectively the French and Breton versions of the name John.

As the best known "Celtic" band in France, Tri Yann are one of the longest-standing Breton music groups surviving from the folk rock revival of the 1970s (following the revival of the bagadoù and Alan Stivell's work). The group are famous for the outlandish costumes worn on stage.

Among their best-known songs are La Jument de Michao (including the chorus "J'entends le loup, le renard et la belette" i.e. "I hear the wolf, the fox and the weasel") and Dans les prisons de Nantes ("In the prisons of Nantes"). Live performances usually include the Breton national anthem Bro Gozh ma Zadoù ("The Land of My Fathers") which has the same tune to the Welsh National Anthem.

Tri Yann sang the role of Uther Pendragon in Alan Simon's rock opera Excalibur.

Members

Founding members

• Jean-Louis Jossic (vocals, bombarde)
• Jean Chocun (vocals, mandolin, guitar)
• Jean-Paul Corbineau (vocals, acoustic guitar)

Other present members

• Gérard Goron (vocals, drums) 1977-
• Jean-Luc Chevalier (electric guitar, bass guitar) 1988-
• Konan Mevel (bagpipes, flutes) 1999-
• Fred Bourgeois (vocals, keyboards) 1999-
• Christophe Peloil (vocals, violin) 1999-

Former members

• Bernard Baudriller (bass guitar) 1971-1985
• Jérôme Gasmi (drums) 1976-1977
• Christophe Le Helley (flute, medieval instruments, keyboard)1992-1998
• Christian Vignoles (guitars) 1979-1988
• Bruno Sabathé (keyboard)1985-1992
• Louis-Marie Séveno (violin, bass guitar) 1986-1999
• Mylène Coue (vocals) 1978
• Bleunwenn Mevel (vocals) 2000-2001

Discography

External links

• Tri Yann official web site (in French)

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