Nigel Kennedy and Kroke: violin, world music and Eastern European traditions at Impart

Ethno Jazz Festival is delighted to invite you to another concert by violin virtuoso Nigel Kennedy, this time accompanied by Polish world music stars Kroke.

The concert will take place on 26 July in the BF Impart theatre hall at ul. Mazowiecka 17.

We advise Wrocław music lovers to decide quickly about buying tickets, as every Nigel concert in our city is certain to draw a crowd to the concert hall.

… What draws me so powerfully to Kroke’s music is their spiritual reality, by which I mean the honesty and authenticity in this music… — Nigel Kennedy

They first met in 2000, when Nigel Kennedy, encouraged by his wife Agnieszka, came to a Kroke club concert in Cornwall, England.

Nigel remembers it this way:

‘Their live performance was extraordinary, as clear as a record. We went over, introduced ourselves, and that was the beginning of our friendship. Then I came to Kraków…’

Earlier, when one of his friends introduced him to Kroke’s music, Nigel reacted:

“Wow! I’ve never heard anything like it: music straight from the heart and sincere. We must play together…”

They played their first concert in summer in Kazimierz, at a club that sadly no longer exists. At the time, it was mainly improvisation. They played a lot and often, mostly drawing on Kroke’s repertoire.

In 2003, they recorded their only joint album to date, “East meets East”, for EMI Classic, with guest appearances by Natasza Atlas and the Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra.

The album features 14 tracks arranged by Nigel Kennedy and Kroke, from Kroke's “Lullaby for Kamila”, “Time” and “Kukush” through traditional pieces including “Ajde Jano”, “Ederlezi” and “Kazimierz”, to “Tribute to Maria Tanase”, honouring the great Romanian singer Maria Tanase.

Their concerts together are a journey through the musical traditions of Eastern Europe, where “East meets East” and Balkan melodies intertwine with Romani and Jewish music. Kroke have brought remarkable colour to their explorations of these musical worlds, while Nigel Kennedy has polished the music to perfection through his mastery of the violin. His virtuosity and that of Kroke, combined with Kennedy’s own onstage energy, make these concerts truly unique musical spectacles.

Nigel Kennedy & Kroke's major concerts include Kraków Philharmonic, Sopot Amphitheatre, Warszawa Singera festival, Łódź's Jewish Culture Festival, Prague's 7 Gates Festival, Dublin's Royal Concert Hall, WOMAD in England, Berlin, Paris and, of course, Ethno Jazz Festival in Wrocław.

Band line-up: Nigel Kennedy – violin; Jerzy Bawół – accordion; Tomasz Kukurba – viola, vocalisations; Tomasz Lato – double bass; Sławomir Berny – drums.