Sunday, October 17, 1999
Area cellist helps Kennedy rock
BY JANELLE GELFAND
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The flaming violin on the cover tells the story: The latest disc from punk-classical violinist Kennedy (he never liked his first name) was inspired by one of the musicians he admires most — Jimi Hendrix.
The ensemble may be acoustic — with strings, oboe, flute and guitar — but the music is electric.
“It's a classical album, but it doesn't sound like watered-down elevator music,” says cellist Gerri-Michele Sutyak, a Wyoming High School grad who collaborated with Kennedy.
The disc, recorded fresh off their U.S. tour with the eight-piece group, The Kennedy Experience, is an eye-popping mix of Hendrix tunes given the virtuoso treatment. It's part classical fireworks; part hard rock beat. You almost expect this classical bad boy to go ballistic at the end and smash his violin into smithereens. But then, he'd never do that to a 1735 Guarneri “del Gesu.”
Ms. Sutyak, whose own L.A.-based group (Darling Violetta) just recorded the theme to TV's Angel, was called by Kennedy “out of the blue,” she says. For the album, she plays high, violin parts on her cello because “he wanted something that wasn't low, but mellow.”
The improvs on six Hendrix tunes vary from the 15-minute “1983 ... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)” to the brief “Fire,” a vehicle for Mr. Kennedy's showmanship.
Like Kennedy, the music is full of unexpected twists — and attitude. “Third Stone from the Sun” is a universe inspired by jazz, minimalism and rock. “Little Wing” is a serene contrast, beginning with mystical guitar arpeggios and featuring a folk-like tune.
“Drifting” has a poignant, pretty dialogue between Kennedy and Ms. Sutyak on cello. “Purple Haze” is given a relentless, big-boned treatment. Through it all, these vibrant improvisations take their cue from Kennedy's classical world, all impeccably played.
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