Jerry Goodman
“I first saw Jerry Goodman at a festival when i was 20. He was a dynamo, a beautiful man with glowing red hair playing wonderful music on the violin. i think he was a friend of a bass player who lived in the flat downstairs from Curved Air, so i got to know him. when Curved Air split up in 1972 i asked him to join, but i think he was still working with John McLaughlin [in Mahavishnu orchestra], so he turned it down, and eddie Jobson became the violinist.
“He’s just such an amazing player. the intro to the flock’s Clown shows the kind of expressive and florid playing he’s capable of. He’s the most beautiful violinist, physically and musically. with the Mahavishnu orchestra, on the albums Birds of fire and the inner
Mounting flame, his playing was so uplifting and inspiring. it’s not very often that i get blown away by a band, but Mahavishnu – once they started up – were so impressive.
“He’s just a unique player. there are many different styles of violin playing, from jazzy to folky and quirky, but he’s a master of the instrument. He’s like paganini, and he plays as beautifully as anyone ever has.”