EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

He’s the maverick musician and classical violinist who’s crossed genres and played with some of the rock greats. Angela Cole spoke to virtuoso Nigel Kennedy, who plays a sell-out, one-off gig this week

Tell us about the programme you will be playing at Rye

For part of the show I will be playing my own compositions from my current album My World. This will include a series called Dedications in tribute to some of the people who have inspired me. These include Polish jazz guitarist Jarek Smietana, violinists Stephane Grappelli and Isaac Stern, US fiddle player Mark O’connor and Yehudi Menuhin. I will also perform music from Bach. Expect the unexpected – that’s all I will say... I love playing in different venues and spaces. It’s different every time. It’s great with my type

of stuff because I don’t have to have it dictated by the lights, like a lot of rock bands. And I don’t have to have it dictated by a conductor when I’m performing classical music – I just do what I want. The vibe from the audience influences things. You pick up on it, it affects the way you play. This is going to be a special event.

You have a house in West Sussex – will the concert in Rye be your only one in the year where you can actually sleep at home the night you’re playing?

Well it will be great to go home after the show but I probably won’t sleep as usually I invite my musicians over after the show for a jamming session and a bit of a party! I’ve got a lot of friends in Sussex and there’s always a fair contingent when I play there. The audiences are always warm so I always look forward to coming here.

You like to try different genres and sounds but do you have a piece that is like an old favourite?

I practise Bach every morning for three or four hours to keep myself sharp. Over the years I’ve worked with some rock and pop musicians including Sir Paul Mccartney, Kate Bush, The Who and Robert Plant and I’ve learned so much from working with those cats, Macca is a brilliant, multi-talented musician and writer of great melodies. Planty is a genuine rock legend. Kate has always pushed herself and given 200% and Daltry and Townsend have changed the course of music. I would love to do more in that field.

How often do you play a wrong note when you’re performing and does it annoy you?

I’m a perfectionist and always want to be better so I constantly judge myself. I want to be better each time I play. Sometimes you can liken music to competitive sport. You see the great sportsmen and they are continually trying to improve. Even when they get to No.1 they are never satisfied, they want to do more. Well, so do I. There’s a lot more to come from me. I’m very excited about the future.”

Do you find it hard to understand how other people can’t play an instrument? Have you ever tried teaching anyone? (eg your son?)

No I don’t find that strange at all. Sark (my son) did briefly play the violin but it is important he does what he wants to do. He is doing a sound technology course at college. I hope I’ll get a cheap sound engineer out of him for me! He’s very good on the drums and at programming drums. He’s got something different from what I had. I’ve got good rhythm but he’s got something natural going through him.

Tell us about playing with the great violinist Stephane Grappelli.

It was invaluable to meet a musician who, when playing, proved serious music doesn’t have to be depressing. Melody In The Wind from my album My World was written for him. Stephane played it when he was alive, it was one of the last things he did. He was really sick at the time but he was determined to do it. He was coughing really badly but it was a matter of pride for him. It was one of the last recordings he ever made. It was a big honour he thought the song was worth playing and he actually played it.

Tell us who you’d invite to a Nigel Kennedy dinner party (alive or dead)

I’d have dinner with Nicola Sturgeon. I really like her, man. Then I’d ask Tyson Fury. I really like him. You know, he’s really been picked on. You can’t say politically correct stuff and then be like a caged beast fighting in the ring. Besides, Nicola Sturgeon and Tyson Fury, that’s a marriage made in heaven. That would get the party started! I think Stockhausen would be the composer I’d invite. He had quite a few wives and mistresses too, so that would be interesting. I’d invite an Aston Villa player, too, either Gordon (Sid) Cowans or Gary Shaw. They were both true Villa greats, so one of them. Then there’d be one seat left, so I’d invited Muhammed Ali. He had charisma. If he hadn’t have got Parkinson’s he could have been the first black President of America.