Bidaia

Bidaia is an all-acoustic ensemble from Spain driven primarily by traditional Basque instruments: the alboka (a small hornpipe) and ttun-ttun (stringed-percussive instrument).

A musical duo for more than five years, Caroline Phillips and Mixel Ducau then formed the group Bidaia with Ritxi Salaberria and Jabi Area. Together, these four musicians create music which is as much Basque as is it universal, inspired by traditional dance melodies and rhythms as well as international folklore.

Mixel Ducau is a native of Bayonne in the northern part of the Basque Country (France), founder of the very successful Basque contemporary rock group Errobi in 1975 (more than 40,000 albums sold). A multi-talented instrumentalist, Mixel is an accomplished saxophonist and a composer and arranger for many groups throughout southern Europe. In 1990 he created the group Zaldibobo with Joseba Tapia (diatonic accordion), a mix of rock and folklore. In 1995 he formed a duo with Caroline, and together they formed the group Bidaia.

Caroline Phillips was born in Northern California's Bay Area, a hothouse of a rich and varied artistic culture. Passionate for singing, she studied classical voice in Paris and regularly performed in jazz clubs and private parties for the ex-patriot American community. In 1988 she composes her first song in her home studio and a year later met and worked with Mixel for the first time in a Parisian recording studio. Two years later she moved to the Basque Country, learned Basque, took up the hurdy-gurdy and formed a duo, then the group Bidaia with Mixel.

Born in the capital of Gipuzkoa, San Sebastian, Jabi Area studied classical percussion at the conservatory while playing rock'n'roll and Basque folk music. He has played with a large number of Spanish and Basque artists including Cesar Cuenca (Celtas Cortos), Mikel Laboa, etc. He also works at ETB (a Basque television station) from time to time.

Born on the Atlantic coast in Hondarribi (Gipuzkoa), Ritxi Salaberria studied classical flute in Pamplona and bass in London. He was a founding member of several groups, including Sorotan Bele and Zaldibobo. A studio musician, Ritxi has worked with Diego Vasallo (Duncan Dhu), Cesar Cuenca (Celtas Cortos), Julia Leon and Pascal Gaigne and works at ETB (a Basque television station) from time to time. —Courtesy Calabash Music