 Tignasse en pétard, maxi grolles de rocker, ce p'tit gars surcâblé de Brighton sidéra le grand public avec ses Quatre Saisons (excellent!), à pousser la madonne endormie des concerts dominicaux de prestige dans les orties. En prêtant davantage l'oreille, on s'aperçut que c'était un vrai musicien, prodigieusement doué, et on lui fit de ces triomphes de circus maximus dont il fallait bien s'attendre à ce que l'excessif soufflé retombe un peu au fil du temps. Avec ce Kennedy, on demeure ainsi très loin d'une simple musique d'aéroport, mais enfin. Des concertos d'Elgar, son premier grand succès, à la musique pop-rock-jazz, c'est bien un parcours peu ordinaire pour cet ancien élève et protégé de personne de moins que Yehudi Menuhin, et qui garda un croquenot dans la musique de chambre classique en compagnie du violoncelliste Lynn Harrell (superbe duo de Ravel!). Ici (cours, camarade branché post-moderne de la révolution musicale industrialo-transculturelle, le vieux monde classique est derrière toi!), ce ne sont que compositions personnelles de l'ami Nigel, qui attireront davantage les nouvelles générations bercées au melting...pop, tutoyant parfois la danse néofolklorique, mais où l'on reconnaît toujours la qualité de sa cantilène violonistique. Bref, comme il vous plaira. (Gilles-Daniel Percet) “… a lot of the time I play music from other worlds …. Welcome to My World” World premiere on the NEUE MEISTER label: International classical superstar NIGEL KENNEDY releases his first album of his own compositions, entitled “My World”. The first album by Nigel Kennedy in which he features his own compositions is at the same time the most intimate view yet of his world: a colourful kaleidoscope of sounds. He has written works inspired by his mentors Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern and Stéphane Grappelli, and artists like Mark O’Connor and Jarek Smietana, while composing a whole new suite to Anton Chekhov’s play “Three Sisters”. On “My World”, Kennedy shows how well string orchestra, rock band and piano go together once you forget the stereotypes. Nigel Kennedy, who turns 60 on December 28, 2016, has been true to his vision throughout his career: making music that transcends all conventions. “My World” retraces how meeting his mentors shaped his musical understanding and changed his career path. Yehudi Menuhin probably had the most important influence on Kennedy: “I feel that Yehudi Menuhin gives me a direct route back to the music of Bach. Also Menuhin paid for my education at his school so without him I would probably not be playing classical music at all.” Next to Menuhin, meeting Stéphane Grappelli was a crucial moment: “I met Stéphane for the first time when he was playing to us kids in the Yehudi Menuhin School; I surprised him by jumping on the stage and joining him in his performance, which was the catalyst for a long musical relationship with him. He loved it that a 14-year-old kid was into his music and could also play it. From my point of view, it was invaluable to meet a musician who, when playing, proved that serious music doesn’t have to be depressing.” Listening to “My World” it becomes very clear how strong jazz music has influenced Kennedy. This is to be heard in the dedications to Polish jazz guitarist Jaroslaw Smietana or Nashville based country-jazz-blues violinist and composer Mark O’Connor and also represented in the band line-up. Orphy Robinson, who has already played with Don Cherry, Wynton Marsalis, David Murray and many famous jazz musicians, plays vibes and percussion alongside Adam Czerwinski on drums. Tomasz Kupiec on bass has to lay the groundwork for three guitarists: long-time touring guitarist Rolf Bussalb, young Julian Buschberger and Doug Boyle, who used to play with Robert Plant and is now assistant producer of Nigel’s album. Considering this line-up, “My World” sounds surprisingly calm and classical. The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra has a permanent role throughout, while the band only plays some of the time. Overall Nigel demonstrates what a great soloist he is: virtuosic but never plays a note too many – just like his musical idols. He has written an album full of great melodies. “Three Sisters” is clear evidence of this. The inspiration for the suite comes from Nigel’s wife Agnieszka, who has produced the play by Anton Chekhov for the stage. Fascinated by the underlying psychological study of the play, Nigel started writing his own “Three Sisters” suite. “My World” will be released on December 23, 2016, only a few days before Nigel Kennedy’s 60th birthday.
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