John Wood

Location:

London, England.

Years Piping:

Over 30 years off and on, with breaks to concentrate on fiddle, Uilleann pipes, and flute.

Interests:

Fiddle, guitar, concertina, blackwood flute, and Irish and Highland pipes of course. Making reeds for the Uilleann pipes. Motorcycling thru England, Scotland, Ireland... Northwest Spain to Portugal. Celebrating "Carnaval" in Nazare-- a full-of-life fishing town, 80 miles north of Lisbon, where I worked many years ago. Recording songs/tunes (some self-penned) on CDs for friends and family... Fiddle/vocals from brother Bill (Oklahoma) and sister Jillian (London)... Presently working on Number 3.

BANDS:

"Jump at the Sun" and "Six Mile Bridge" in the late 80's and early 90's...Celtic-folk bands in Ottawa, Canada with great singers/musicians--and many happy memories! Recent "guest spots" with "Coldwater Dog", my brother's Celtic band based in Fort Smith, Arkansas-- and no, I don't make the Wednesday night rehearsals.

My pipes (great price and only 10 weeks from the first email to in-my-arms!) are chalice topped, plain turned mopane with blackwood ringcaps and ferrules, 21 purple heart inlays, and brass engraved slides by Bernie Leigh of Celtic Silver. The mounts are ivory from 100 year old billiard balls-- the last to be auctioned on ebay... Douglas has sculpted these to a breathtaking beauty. The bag is a medium hide, fitted and sent by "return post" by top-class James Begg of Glasgow.

John Wood's Image Gallery

"These MacPherson pipes are the high point on a long road started many years ago in the back streets of old Bombay (now Mumbai) where I had my first few lessons. My little teacher --no taller than 5 feet, but with the lungs of a hatti (elephant)-- knew no English, and my Hindi was limited... but the magic was there. A few years later in Edinburgh, my friend's instructor, the wonderful George Stoddart, went to play my humble set and discovered there was no blowpipe valve. His cheeks blew out in surprise and laughter! Well I never knew these valves existed and I always blocked the air with my tongue-- the way I had been taught in India.!"

" Scotland has produced many great pipemakers, and Douglas is definitely one of their finest. He and Jan have been amazing and their finished treasure has put me firmly back on Piping Road. Thank you. To help design your own set of pipes and then play the rich, rrroaring result is an experience I would wish on all pipers, Whether you are already well on your way or just starting out from your own Bombay..." Slainte - John Wood