Search - Nigel Kennedy :: Kafka

If Hendrix played fiddle

Syd Baumel | Winnipeg, Canada | 02/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This major genre hop by British classical violinist Nigel Kennedy appears to have trouble finding its audience. It seems that most of Kennedy's concert hall fans are not amused by his walk on the wild side, while most lovers of progressive fusion - which is what this marvelous album is - probably don't even know the record exists.The compositions may not be Stravinsky or Elgar; but then even the best progressive music rarely is. What really makes this album an "event" is the innovative, jaw-dropping musicianship. Kennedy transforms his concert violin into an "axe"; he does for it what his hero Jimi Hendrix did for the electric guitar. He combines the virtuosity that has made him famous in the concert hall with a superlative command of electronic timbral shapeshifting and applies it to a highly varied set of compositions that mix rock with jazz with classical with East with West with . . . Importantly, Kennedy cooks. He rocks. He bites. He explodes. He cuts loose without a score as well as any rock or jazz musician, but with his own uniquely brilliant voice."

Music lover from Texas

oskar | 02/14/2000

(1 out of 5 stars)

"It is very understandable when a great performer tries to compose music, after all he is talented, right? Well, of course. Many performers try , very few succeed... This CD is one example of a sincere touching effort of a virtuoso violinist Nigel Kennedy at composing his own music. The result is, alas, very disappointing. His extraordinary sensibility and taste as a performer is completely absent from his compositions. Maybe another time?"

Stunning CD

Syd Baumel | 04/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can listen to Nigel Kennedy anytime. He makes the violin sing. This CD shows the versatility of this instrument and the talent of Nigel Kennedy."