Customer Reviews

Roaming

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

 

 

There are a lot of fiddle recordings out there, and there are a lot of jazz recordings out there, and there are also a lot of classical recordings out there. But rarely do you hear so many influences being drawn upon by one artist on one recording. This CD by Jeremy Kittel is unique (and great) because not only does he play surperbly in the Scottish style, but he can play in a wide variety of other styles as well and still create a cohesive album. This CD has just about everything I've always wanted to hear in a fiddle recording. In addition to showcasing a number of wonderfully played Scottish tunes, it boasts such treats as Blackberry Blossom (which is familiar to many and often played) paired with the big-band favorite Sing Sing Sing. Not what you would expect on most Celtic recordings. It's full of unexpected tunes that pull from all kinds of musical genres, from Celtic to bluegrass to jazz to classical, and thus has something for everyone. This CD is great, and everyone should buy it. Right now.

I teach violin and fiddle. I have never heard a fiddle recording with such rich, full tone in the ornamentation as this. The rolls are awesome. The variety of styles is breathtaking. Jeremy writes great tunes! I look forward to the next CD.

Jeremy Kittel's new CD is a real winner! If your feet don't start tapping to his reels and jigs then you don't like fiddle music. Especially good is tract 2, "Stairwell Time." If it's a slow soulful tune that you like, his version of "Gloomy Winter" is the best I've ever heard. This CD has everything from traditional celtic music, to jazz, and bluegrass. Jeremy's diversity is wonderful to hear and John Behling is the perfect accompaniast. They bring out the best in one another. Buy it and enjoy it!

I bought this CD at a concert after hearing Jeremy and his group play the music featured on this disk. I was, in a word, dumbstruck. Here's a lad still in college who is writing and performing contemporary celtic (and jazz) arrangments of the sort done by bands like DeDannon or The Tannahill Weavers or Barde- arrangements of stunning harmonic and rhyhmic complexity, with performance skills to match. His arrangment of Chick Corea's "Spain" is simply a stunner.

Forget his age. Kittler plays with the skill, sensitivity and fire of the best Celic and jazz fiddlers out there. Buy both his CDs now, and in ten years you'll be able to brag you discovered him when he was a mere lad. And if you have an opportunity to hear him play live, run, do not walk, to buy your tickets before everyone discoveres how incredible he is. Six stars.

I have now seen Jeremy Kittel perform live 4 times. 3 times at the local highland games and last night performing with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. If you have the chance to see him live, I would highly recommend it. The music is moving. It is hard to listen to this music without tapping your feet and/or pounding on the table.
If you can't see him live, buy his albums they are a treat.

I give this album 4 stars because it isn't as good as his first album. However, it is still excellent. Well worth listening to.

I am always impressed with what Jeremy comes out with, and this is no exception. This is an album I've owned for several years now, and I continue to bring it out and enjoy it often. As a violinist and violin teacher, I also have my students listen to it to give them another musical perspective that is mature and developed (as well as beautiful, inventive and fun, of course!). Any music lover should have this in their collection.

It is rare that one gets the opportunity to hear music from a young artist who is destined for greatness before the rest of the world finds out about him. Being from Jeremy's home town, I've had the privilege of hearing him mature as a musician. With this album, it has become clear that Jeremy Kittel is more than a great celtic fiddler -- he's a great fiddler...period.

Roaming does for celtic music what Bela Fleck does for bluegrass. There's some great tradional playing here, especially on track 1 where Jeremy displays some blazing fast licks. But, as a jazz lover, I was blown away by his rendition of Chick Corea's Spain. Jeremy, along with John Behling on guitar, creates a richness of sound on this song that would give the Turtle Island String Quartet a run for their money. And, Spain presents a great opportunity for Jeremy to show off his considerable improvisational skills.

The next track introduces a piano to the mix and, although it is a celtic tune, provides clear evidence of Jeremy's classical training, interweaving elements of celtic, classical and jazz in one song!

If you are a jazz lover with a curiosity for celtic music...or vice versa -- buy this CD.