Nigel Kennedy with “Shhh!”: a violin quintet, funk rock and “River Man” with Boy George

Nigel Kennedy’s quintet album confirms the independent spirit and insatiable musical appetite of one of Britain’s finest and most unpredictable musicians.

After releasing his own compositions on NKQ's 2008 “A Very Nice Album”, Kennedy offers an even more eclectic collection. It was recorded at the legendary Rockfield rock studios in the artist's homeland, South Wales.

One of the album's most incredible and surprising tracks was co-created by Boy George, Kennedy's old friend and close neighbour in south-west London, who shares his love of Nick Drake's later songs. George's delicate vocals on River Man signal another new direction for Kennedy: gentle chamber pop, in which he draws low, lyrical tones from his violin.

“I found several singers whose voices I thought might work well on River Man, but with George's voice I simply knew it would sound incredible. His beautiful, deeply moving interpretation and style give the song an entirely different dimension.”

The remaining pieces on “Shhh!” are Kennedy originals, from the long instrumental opener, “Transfiguration”, whose soaring sounds recall John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra, to the outrageous funk rock of the closing track, “Oy!”. The album encompasses a wide range of moods, from the austere, sorrowful and lonely “The Empty Bottle” to the uplifting “Silver Lining”.

“I love moving from one style to another: it's something that makes life interesting for me as a musician. It's a kind of journey we all take together,” Kennedy remarks cheerfully.

Nigel Kennedy is often called a virtuoso with a “punk soul”, famous for unique arrangements of Bach, Vivaldi, Brahms, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix. He developed under outstanding teachers Yehudi Menuhin and Dorothy DeLay at New York’s Juilliard School of Music. Beginning alongside famous violinist Stephane Grappelli, he has been associated with EMI Classic from the start. His recording of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons brought global fame and sold two million copies.

He has strong links with Poland: he serves as guest director of the Kraków Philharmonic, and Cracovia is his second favourite football club after England’s Aston Villa.