Nigel (Paul) Kennedy - Career, Discography, Instruments, Trivia

Violinist, born in Brighton, East Sussex, SE England, UK. He studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School, London, and the Juilliard School, New York City. He made his debut as a concert soloist in 1977, and has since played with many of the world's major orchestras, and alongside jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli. He is noted for his unconventional style of dress, as well as for his remarkable playing ability. His recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons held the number 1 spot in the UK Classical Chart for over a year (1989–90).

Nigel Kennedy (born December 28, 1956 in Brighton, England) is a violinist and violist.

Career

Kennedy has done much a to popularise classical music, particularly among young people.

Kennedy expresses concern for the immediate appeal of live performance, and often records entire works or movements in single 'takes' to preserve this sense in his recordings. Away from his musical career, Kennedy is a supporter of football clubs Aston Villa and Cracovia.

In 1999 Sony Classical released a recording entitled The Kennedy Experience, which featured improvisational recordings of Jimi Hendrix compositions. According to a BBC interview with Kennedy, the violinist stated that this recording is "an album of music inspired by Jimi Hendrix. On the recording, Kennedy is accompanied by seven other musicians, and the lineup includes two cellos, an oboe, two guitars, a dobro, flute, and double bass.

He has also recorded The Doors Concerto, a violin based orchestral version of many Doors songs, including Strange Days, LA Woman, The End, and Riders On The Storm.

On 24 October 2006, it was reported that Kennedy broke his arm in a cycling accident.

Discography

2006: Bluenote Sessions 2006: Kennedy, Live at La Citadelle 2006: Inner Thoughts 2006: Nigel Kennedy Plays Bach 2005: Legend: Beethoven and Bruch 2004: Vivaldi II 2003: Vivaldi 2003: East Meets East 2002: Greatest Hits 2000: Kennedy Plays Bach 2000: The Doors Concerto 2000: Duos for Violin & Cello 1999: Classic Kennedy 1999: The Kennedy Experience 1998: Kreisler 1997: Edward Elgar & Ralph Vaughan Williams 1996: Kafka 1993: Tchaikovsky 1992: Beethoven: Violin Concerto 1992: Sibeluis: Violinkonzert / Tchaikovsky: Violinkonzert 1991: Johannes Brahms - Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77 1989: Antonio Vivaldi - The Four Seasons 1988: Sibeluis - Violin Concerto / Symphony No. Other Elgar Favourites 1984: Nigel Kennedy Plays Jazz

Instruments

Nigel Kennedy has owned or used violins by:

Guarneri del Gesu, 'La Fonte' c.1735; Johannes Finkel bow Violectra electric violin (with pickup by Barbera Transducers Systems)

Trivia

He trashed his hotel room at the Four Seasons in Berlin.{cn} He had his Rolls Royce painted in the Aston Villa colors.{cn}