- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: VIOLINIST NIGEL KENNEDY SPEAKS ABOUT HIS NEW ALBUM 'KAFKA'
- Date: 6th June 1996
- Summary: KENNEDY AND ETHERIDGE WALKING DOWN STEPS PAST JOURNALISTS
- Embargoed: 21st June 1996 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: CASTLE COMBE, WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVAD35ONLV7K0BOHEBPX6KUFUUBG
- Story Text: Nigel Kennedy, the violinist whose recording of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" became the biggest-selling classical music album of all time, has turned composer for his new album "Kafka".
Kennedy was renowned for shedding the image of the concert musician in black tie and tails in favour of a pop look, a punk haircut and a no-nonsense approach to his subject that made classical music accessible to many new fans.
His new album was recorded in Wales with the collaboration of 33 different artists from all parts of the musical spectrum, including fellow violinist Stephane Grappelli, Kennedy's former partner Brix Smith, Stephen Duffy and Jane Siberry. He recorded "Kafka" with Peter Gabriel's producer Dave Bottrill.
Kennedy made "Kafka" after a hiatus in his career following the success of "The Four Seasons". But during that period, he was putting the finishing touches to his own compositions and undergoing surgery - twice - for a neck problem that affected his ability to perform and practice.
Kennedy told Reuters that he had in fact been planning an album featuring his own compositions for some time, but the runaway success of "Four Seasons" meant that he had to put his new songs to one side until he had time to record them.
"These songs all started accumulating, and by the time I started making this album I had seventy songs I had to whittle down to the eleven that are on it now", Kennedy said.
Whilst the album has all the hallmarks of the classical training that Kennedy received under the aegis of Yehudi Menuhin, the music nears the mark of Kennedy's wide taste in music.
The "Kafka" project was partly inspired by Kennedy's admiration for Jimi Hendrix. Plans to perform cover versions of Hendrix's songs foundered over legal complications in administering the late guitarist's estate. But Kennedy said that he was also spurred to make the break from pure classical music by collaborations with artists such as Kate Bush and Robert Plant, which gave him the confidence to perform his own compositions.
Kennedy's passion for soccer is also represented in the track "I Believe In God", which refers to his admiration for Paul McGrath, star of his favourite team, Aston Villa.
Speaking to journalists at the launch of "Kafka", Kennedy reassured them that his image as the wild boy of classical music had not been completely compromised by a sudden religious conversion.
"I believe in God," Kennedy said. "But he wears number five and he's called Paul McGrath and plays for Aston Villa", he hastened to add.
"Kafka" will be released on June 17. Nigel Kennedy plans to tour with the album in the autumn. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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