Jean Blanchard

Jean Blanchard is a celebrated French musician known for his mastery of traditional instruments like the cornemuse (bagpipe) from central France, as well as the violin, diatonic accordion, and banjo. Growing up near Bourges in the Berry region, he immersed himself in local folk traditions early in life, eventually co-founding the influential folk group La Bamboche in the early 1970s. Through his work with La Bamboche and later ensembles like the Quintet of Bagpipes and La Quadrette, Blanchard played a key role in the revival of French folk music, performing with hundreds of musicians and collecting traditional melodies from across the country.

A passionate collector and educator, Blanchard has also contributed to preserving folk heritage by documenting and teaching traditional music. He continues to perform, record, and collaborate with other artists, sharing the rich sounds of central France’s musical traditions with audiences worldwide.