The Kennedy Experience

Nigel Kennedy (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 7, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony Classical
• ASIN: B00000K4IY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,401 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

For years now, violinist Kennedy--the self-proclaimed bad boy of the string set--has tried to set classical music on its ear. No, not like the Kronos Quartet--peppering great performances of eclectic, underheard New Music works with an encore of Hendrix or Raymond Scott--but with punk attitude and a name change, and by selling a ton of albums (at least in the case of his Four Seasons). His technique is debatable, but you really can't blame a guy for turning a ton of people into new classical-music fans. With The Kennedy Experience, the violinist puts aside the Elgar, Beethoven, and Brahms (at least for an hour) and focuses on the work of (you guessed it) Jimi Hendrix. With his Kennedy Experience octet, the chamber ensemble performs guitar-rock classics such as "Little Wing," "Fire," and, of course, "Purple Haze." These are extended jams--opener "Third Stone from the Sun" is 14 minutes long--but the playing is fine, with plenty of improvisation. Kennedy transcribed Hendrix's more complex tunes into parts for winds and cellos, while he and his string section (two guitarists and two cellists) go free-form. Loose and jazzy, it's an impressive--though far from classical--effort, with none of the typical clichés found in rock tribute albums. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars R U Experienced?, November 28, 2001

By 

Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Kennedy Experience (Audio CD)

This isn't your typical Jimi tribute fare, then again Nigel isn't your typical classical violinst. This is not for the timid listener as it challenges conventional perceptions. The only things classical about this disc is the ensemble and Nigels interpretation of Jimi's music. A unique and masterful job is the result of the explorations of Hendrix's classics. Kudos to Nigel for crossing the lines and blurring the perceptions of music. The songs chosen allow for beautiful improvisations, at times frentic, at others soothing, that are as minding bending as the original rock versions, maybe even more so. The first three songs are extended jam sessions, structured around the fiery bow work of Nigel. The jazzy intonations are puntuated by the guitars, bass and of course oboe and cello. Of the first three tracks "1983" is the more innovative and spacier of the jams. Throughout the disc Nigel explores areas that ebb and flow, melodically shifting and grinding out the music. Nigel is careful to not "out Jimi" Hendrix by overextending his skills to the point of nauseam virtuosity, he carefully plots and exerts his own signature on the compositions as only he can. "Drifting" is exceptioanlly beautiful and lyrical, a superb rendition of a classic Hendrix tune. There are times when the songs are barely recognizable but he eventually brings it all back home, harmonious rapture being the end result. If you like jazz or the music of Jimi this is a disc for you. The free form violin of Nigel, coupled with the timeless compostions of a guitar God make for an undaunted new Hendrix experience.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An artist being an artist!, March 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Kennedy Experience (Audio CD)

Hats off to Kennedy for this hommage to Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix may not exactly be my cup of tea, but I have enjoyed every minute of this recording. Perhaps some of this album's previous reviewers should try to grasp the idea that a violin has more than one venue for its use. I have seen Kennedy perform with now three major American orchestras and have been come away feeling as though I had seen something special, and I have. Music and art are what we as listeners and observers make of it. I have long admired this performer's committment to performing music and not making music easier to listen to just to gain an audience for classical music. As a student of classical music (what's really in that name?), I enjoy few things as much as a performance that has me leave the hall feeling as though I'd been challenged as a listener...not challenged to make sense of the music, but challenged to really hear the music - its nuance and those qualities which make live performance of classical music different from any other experience we can have.

Bravo, Kennedy! And bravo as well to those hearty listeners who are willing to take a chance. The performers on this album are excellent, and all that the nay-sayers can seem to find wrong is that these people have somehow "disgraced" their instruments by performing this music. I hope that these people do not consider themselves music historians in any sense. For how can we condemn this album and praise toher music whose composers challenged the norms? These composers would include: Beethoven, Haydn, Stravinsky, Brahms, Wagner, Mahler, Schoenberg, Shostakovich and many others. Careful of what you consider yourselves, my friends....you may have to actually BE that which you profess to be!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A league of its own., October 18, 2001

By 

"alan_ng" (Johor Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kennedy Experience (Audio CD)

I cannot be certain if the album is targeted for classical or rock listeners. Nigel Kennedy has blurred this classical/rock interpretation with soul moving gusts. A spiritual aspirations
and a cut from most sonic experiences i have come across. Highly recommended.