Nigel Eaton
Encyclopedia
Nigel Eaton is an English
hurdy gurdy
player. He originally played the piano
and cello
but switched to the hurdy gurdy
in 1981 when his father, Christopher Eaton, began making them. He performed as part of the dance band Blowzabella
from 1985 and recorded five albums with them before their split in 1990. He was one half of Whirling Pope Joan with Julie Murphy
. He was part of a trio called The Duellists with Cliff Stapleton and Chris Walshaw. He released an album with the melodeon
player Andy Cutting
, Panic at the Cafe (1993). He has released two solo albums - The Music of the Hurdy Gurdy (1987) and Pandemonium (2002) and has been featured on other recordings by artists including Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
and Loreena McKennitt
. Blowzabella reformed in 1995 and Eaton performed with them until November 2004. He was replaced by Gregory Jolivet. Film work has included 'Robin Hood' 'The Shipping News' 'Kingdom of Heaven' 'Aliens' and "Mansfield Park'. Nigel Eaton is now a built-in furniture maker in South London.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
hurdy gurdy
Hurdy gurdy
The hurdy gurdy or hurdy-gurdy is a stringed musical instrument that produces sound by a crank-turned rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to a violin...
player. He originally played the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
but switched to the hurdy gurdy
Hurdy gurdy
The hurdy gurdy or hurdy-gurdy is a stringed musical instrument that produces sound by a crank-turned rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to a violin...
in 1981 when his father, Christopher Eaton, began making them. He performed as part of the dance band Blowzabella
Blowzabella
Blowzabella are an English band who play bagpipes, hurdy-gurdies and an array of acoustic instruments to produce an inimitable, driving, drone-based sound influenced by British and European traditional dance music.-History:...
from 1985 and recorded five albums with them before their split in 1990. He was one half of Whirling Pope Joan with Julie Murphy
Julie Murphy
Julie Murphy is a singer who sings in Welsh and English. She sings in the Welsh band Fernhill, as well as performing and recording as a solo artist.She has also collaborated musically with John Cale , and Afro Celt Sound System .-Biography:Murphy was born in Highgate, London,...
. He was part of a trio called The Duellists with Cliff Stapleton and Chris Walshaw. He released an album with the melodeon
Melodeon (organ)
A melodeon is a type of 19th century reed organ with a foot-operated vacuum bellows, and a piano keyboard. It differs from the related harmonium, which uses a pressure bellows. Melodeons were manufactured in the United States sometime after 1812 until the Civil War era...
player Andy Cutting
Andy Cutting
Andy Cutting is an English folk musician and composer. Born 18 March 1969 in Harrow, he plays melodeon and has had instruments made by Castagnari to his own specification. He won the Folk Musician of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 and 2011...
, Panic at the Cafe (1993). He has released two solo albums - The Music of the Hurdy Gurdy (1987) and Pandemonium (2002) and has been featured on other recordings by artists including Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
Page and Plant
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, both formerly of English hard rock band Led Zeppelin, recorded and toured in the mid-1990s under the title Page and Plant. The pair re-united in 1994 and, after recording a highly successful first album, they embarked on a world tour. They then recorded a second album,...
and Loreena McKennitt
Loreena McKennitt
Loreena Isabel Irene McKennitt, CM, OM, is a Canadian singer, composer, harpist, accordionist and pianist who writes, records and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. McKennitt is known for her refined, clear soprano vocals...
. Blowzabella reformed in 1995 and Eaton performed with them until November 2004. He was replaced by Gregory Jolivet. Film work has included 'Robin Hood' 'The Shipping News' 'Kingdom of Heaven' 'Aliens' and "Mansfield Park'. Nigel Eaton is now a built-in furniture maker in South London.
Discography
- The Blowzabella Wall of Sound - BlowzabellaBlowzabellaBlowzabella are an English band who play bagpipes, hurdy-gurdies and an array of acoustic instruments to produce an inimitable, driving, drone-based sound influenced by British and European traditional dance music.-History:...
(1986) - The B to A of Blowzabella - BlowzabellaBlowzabellaBlowzabella are an English band who play bagpipes, hurdy-gurdies and an array of acoustic instruments to produce an inimitable, driving, drone-based sound influenced by British and European traditional dance music.-History:...
(1987) - A Richer Dust - BlowzabellaBlowzabellaBlowzabella are an English band who play bagpipes, hurdy-gurdies and an array of acoustic instruments to produce an inimitable, driving, drone-based sound influenced by British and European traditional dance music.-History:...
(1988) - Pingha Frenzy - BlowzabellaBlowzabellaBlowzabella are an English band who play bagpipes, hurdy-gurdies and an array of acoustic instruments to produce an inimitable, driving, drone-based sound influenced by British and European traditional dance music.-History:...
(1988) - Vanilla - BlowzabellaBlowzabellaBlowzabella are an English band who play bagpipes, hurdy-gurdies and an array of acoustic instruments to produce an inimitable, driving, drone-based sound influenced by British and European traditional dance music.-History:...
(1990) - Music of The Hurdy Gurdy (1987)
- Spin (1994) - Whirling Pope Joan, with Julie MurphyJulie MurphyJulie Murphy is a singer who sings in Welsh and English. She sings in the Welsh band Fernhill, as well as performing and recording as a solo artist.She has also collaborated musically with John Cale , and Afro Celt Sound System .-Biography:Murphy was born in Highgate, London,...
- No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded - Page and PlantPage and PlantJimmy Page and Robert Plant, both formerly of English hard rock band Led Zeppelin, recorded and toured in the mid-1990s under the title Page and Plant. The pair re-united in 1994 and, after recording a highly successful first album, they embarked on a world tour. They then recorded a second album,...
(1994) - English Hurdy-Gurdy Music - The Duellists (1997)
- Panic at the Cafe - with Andy CuttingAndy CuttingAndy Cutting is an English folk musician and composer. Born 18 March 1969 in Harrow, he plays melodeon and has had instruments made by Castagnari to his own specification. He won the Folk Musician of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 and 2011...
(1993) - Les Saisons Amusantes - with the Palladian Ensemble (1997)
- Pandemonium (2002)