Live
NIGEL KENNEDY QUINTET: SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE 23/09/08
It takes a big personality to make the Shepherd’s Bush Empire feel like a warm and intimate gig. This special magic is only achieved by a rare gift and this man bares many gifts of the musical kind.
Nigel Kennedy, quite rightly stormed the west London stage to rapturous applause and deservedly so. Having conquered the proms and silenced his detractors, NK was in a relaxed mood ready, but fired up to showcase once more the flipside of his musical personality and deliver us his own brand of original hybrid-Jazz Fusion.
Drawing us straight in with 'All Paths Meet' with it’s long pensive slowburning intro, the scene was set. Once the band kicked in Nigel could hardly be contained,like Usain Bolt sprung from the traps, he was off and running with its lyrical head swiftly dispatched there followed darting, stabbing runs and a soaring intensity that filled the air and set the benchmark for the remainder of the evening.
The monster soloist that he is doesn’t detract from what a fine band he happens to have, NK’s natural exuberance is counteracted by the rich warm timbre of the tenor sax (Tomasz Grzegorski) and like pearls fallen from a broken necklass, the beautiful and virtuoso counter solos of pianist Piotr Wylezol are added to dazzling effect.
Wrapped up in Samba swaying playing from the ever propulsive Pawe_ Dobrowolski on drums, saw the NKquintet dip into their latin vibe effortlessy. The core of the music may be dense and challenging but with the groove taken care of with Pawel’s trusty bass sidekick, the deft Adam Kowalewski - the light and shade of the material is easier on the aural palette. NK uses all his classical tricks to ensure each tune has a beginning middle and end. Sometimes unbearably heavy yet also very frail, haunting and sparse (like life itself) constantly referencing the sheer emotional intensity, zen-like this master and manipulator of mood holds all the strings!
The light hearted playfulness of 'Nice bottle of Beaujolais innit?' was next up. Perhaps a nod to his late friend and jazz mentor Stephanne Grappelli. Once more his twinkling lyrical mood returned. Ironically it was during this tune I noticed I was sitting next to the girl from 'Allo Allo' Renés ooh la la! bit on the side! All things French, Strange coincidence innit? I thought
Paying tribute to another fusioneer, Donovan (who was the first to mix folk with rock) Saw NK ramp it up (after some cute celtic plucking) to another level,out came the wailing Hammond organ and in came the Nigel Kennedy experience, full on wah wah and pedals at the plenty. NK rocks with the best of them, Jeff Beck included.
Starting the second half with 'Hills of Saturn' showcased the wondrous bass clarinet with each languid tone puncturing the near silence of the brooding Hammond relentlessly circling the 2 fat chords of the A section. NKQ lulled the audience into a false sense of security and then wallop! Captain Kennedy was back in seducing us with a spacey, harmonic entrance building once more into a full on pyrotechnic circus that wouldn’t be out of place at a Metallica gig!
Nk instinctively knows when to let rip and when to bring it to the level of a pin drop. He’s a master of dynamics. Taut tension and poetic release permeate throughout this moody second set-typified by 'Invaders' (dedicated to the White House). Nigel makes his stance both politically and musically with the toughest Middle Eastern riff this side of Christendom with its twists and turns between east and west picking up a soulful jazzy, octave strident, piano solo on the way. A plea for an enduring vision of human decency and peace to one another, I suspect.
Finishing off with 'Midnight Blue' from his acclaimed Blue Note sessions album. The classic Kenny Burrell interpretation sent the crowd home fully sated and on their merry way. The originator that is classical-violinist Kennedy has transformed to Kennedy the maverick jazzer few can do both but I’m damned if I can name them apart from him!
One thing for sure NK has been building up his jazz steam and will continue to play an important and lntegral role on the international Jazz scene for many Years to come. A national treasure indeed!
Stunning photo's care of Costa Anastasakis.
Words Emrys Baird
