Bleizi Ruz

Deriving their moniker from Breton terminology signifying "Red Wolves," Bleizi Ruz deliver an energetic fusion that blends Breton dance traditions with Romanian, Bulgarian, and American folk forms alongside original compositions shaped by Cajun and gypsy influences. The ensemble came together in 1973 and first gained notice through an intensely driven reinterpretation of longstanding Breton dance idioms such as gavottes, cercles circassiens, and vocal pieces. In 1979 the musicians joined storyteller and singer Patrick Ewan for a German tour, after which Ewan maintained an ongoing though intermittent association with the group. Starting with the release of their third album, Coz Liorziou, in 1983, Bleizi Ruz shifted toward increasingly elaborate musical settings. The 1993 recording Hent Sant Jakez later appeared on the BBC’s year-end ranking of the ten finest albums.