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From studying at the Julliard School to reinventing the music of Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix, and in between stunning the classical world with repertoire from Bartok to Vivaldi, Nigel Kennedy has always been driven by his passion for musical diversity.

THE NIGEL KENNEDY QUINTET

While the first album of his Nigel Kennedy Quintet Blue Note Sessions (2006) focused on interpreting compositions from past masters of the jazz repertoire, for his seconde NKQ CD A Very Nice Album (2008) Kennedy steped to the fore as composer as well as improviser. He himself admited that "some people might not call all the songs I've written jazz", and he was not afraid to test the term to destruction as the compositions roam from blues and bebop to ballads and bossa-nova, interspersed with an occasional blast of metal. The latest Nigel Kennedy Quintet album, SHHH! (EMI 2010) confirms the maverick status and omnivorous musical taste of one of Britain's finest and most unpredictable musicians. Collaborating on one of the album's outstanding and most surprising tracks is Boy George.

FURTHER PROJECTS //////

NIGEL KENNEDY - BACH / FATS WALLER // In his new project Nigel Kennedy presents a musiacl program which celebrates works from Johan Sebastian Bach as well as from the legendary jazz musician Fats Waller.  The concert starts with Bach’s work Paritat II, d-minor for solo violin, afterwards he will play his own arrangements of the music of Fats Waller together with guitar, drums and double bas.

"Playing Bach and Fats Waller on one show is a dream for me - two amazing keyboard players, both masters of harmony and melody." Nigel Kennedy

NIGEL KENNEDY - VIVALDI FOUR ELEMENTS // Nigel Kennedy's release of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" from 1989 is still one of the best-selling classical work of all time. One more reason, to pick up and develop this music in his project. Nigel Kennedy combines the four elements air, earth, fire and water and brings together different styles of music which inspired him during his carreer.

"The Four Elements" (VÖ: Sony Classical, 07.10.2011) was composed for violin, orchestra, band and voice.

NIGEL KENNEDY & KROKE // After the successful tour of Kennedy & Kroke in 2003 and 2004 and their CD East meets East  (Emi Classics 2003), Kennedy now goes again on stage with the pioneers in Klezmer and folk style.The addition of Kennedy's violin adds spectacular excitement with each piece of music offering something fresh and striking: Music full of melancholia, infectious dance rhythms and stunning melodies: Klezmer meets Folk meets Classic.

THE NIGEL KENNEDY BAND: JIM HENDRIX PROGRAM // Having already interpreted works of Jimi Hendrix a couple of years ago, this time Kennedy comes along with totally new interpretations and arrangements. With his new Jimi Hendrix -program again avoids any attempts to emulate Jimi Hendrix's playing or singing style when interpreting his songs.

(BACH)ELLINGTON PROGRAM // With his new Bach & Ellington -program, Kennedy traverse once more the boundaries of music. With his new program Kennedy and his band intend to show the enjoyable diversity but also the common humanity of two great composers who might normally be perceived as belonging in different categories.  

CD: SHHH! (april 2010 / EMI)