Customer Reviews

Kafka

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

This album by Nigel Kennedy is brilliant. Full of diversity and vast in scope. A controversial figure he may be, but dull and boring he is not. Unclassifiable, "Kafka" has something for every type of music lover. I will be listening to this one for a long time to come.

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.

It never relly impress, exept the fantastic "I belive in god", but the musical visions and landscapes Nigel Kennedy opens up in this record, is new landmark. It is prog rock!

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?

First, I suppose this CD suit me pretty much.What the music should be? What the film could be? Just be an entertainment? I don't think so. If you have bought this CD, you would not wanna miss this movie "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon". Directed by Lee Ann, one which impacts my deep heart. Actually, I have no idea of how Kennedy transform Kafka's words to music. But, it's not important to me. The point is that I feel something emerging in my mind and going to explode, after listening this CD and seeing this movie. What I can say. Wonderful, excellent, Amazing! You know What? This is the first time I perceive that we have opportunity to create somestuff good from any style without border. Even Kennedy might be an American(I can't make sure), and Lee Ann is a Taiwaner, but the works created from them are felt so similar, and as good as each one.