Jacky Molard Quartet: Photo by Bryan AakerRoma di Luna: Photo by Karen MoonSince his first appearance at the Minnesota sur Seine Music Festival in 2005 with singer Erik Marchand, violin virtuoso Jacky Molard, together with the Jacky Molard Acoustic Quartet, has been musically questioning assumptions about traditional Celtic Breton music.

Molard has been one of the main instigators of the reshaping of Celtic music in France, willingly combining elements from several folk traditions—Irish, of course, but also Spanish and Central/East European--and also from jazz. Molard also plays with Gwerz, one of the most innovative of the Breton folk bands, and in a duo with jazz violinist Dominique Pifarély. So it is no surprise that Molard’s compositions incorporate subtle touches from this variety of inspirations. In order to work in these diverse directions, the violinist has surrounded himself with musicians immersed in tradition, yet open to other horizons. Sax player Yanick Jory and accordionist Janick Martin both play traditional music as well as contemporary music, gypsy tunes, and jazz. Acoustic bassist Hélène Labarrière brings to Molard’s quartet her wide experience in jazz, from be-bop to free improvisation.