I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to stay for this.  By 2200 I'd been on my feet for 6 hours - longer than standing through Götterdämmerung at the ROH - and I suspected my legs might rebel.  But I made it and I'm very glad I did.  What follows might look like a long list of reservations so let's say right from the start that it was an enormously enjoyable concert by very competent musicians - and, of course, incredible vfm at £5 (less than the cost of the local public transport that took me there!).

One thing that struck me was the irony of NK playing, even in his jazz gig, to an audience with a very high proportion of 'old farts' (to use his phrase).  That he should then introduce as his - very welcome imo - surprise guest the venerable Jeff Beck (Mr Hi-ho Silver lining himself) and then treat us to a programme of music of a type which would have been familiar to anyone on the jazz-rock scene in the '60s/70s completed the irony.  I'm wary of labels but, well, this was jazz-rock wasn't it?  It was mostly NK's own compositions but it could have been The Mothers, Mahavishnu, Return to Forever etc.  At times there was a hint of ECM-style chamber jazz but none of it seemed to carry an individual stamp marking it out as Nigel Kennedy - or even 21st century.  That said, it was music I liked, delivered, for the most part, impeccably.  I wondered a bit about the miking and amplification (they seemed still to be doing sound tests when the audience came in) particularly when the other guest - Xantone Blacq - came on.  I really couldn't work out what he was singing so I'm as much in the dark about his talents as I was at the start.

To conclude - this was fun and, in my opinion, a good use of a late prom.  Most of the sellout audience turned up and the arena seemed about 2/3rds full.  Most people seemed to love it and were still there when I felt obliged to start my journey back at 1145. They were playing '3rd stone From the Sun' - one of his Hendrix covers that impressed me far less than the earlier pieces (although it did sound rather better live than on his recording).  Was there much more after that?  I didn't like leaving without joing in the the final applause but there's a limit to how late I can expect my hosts to wait for my return.

Agree with the influences on the music that you mention H, I also felt there were bits of old west coast psychedelia as mentioned in another post I made last night. I also agree that the concert tailed off slightly, the earlier pieces up to and including the one featuring Jeff Beck being better than the final ones which may have been designed to be more crowd pleasers but fell a bit flat ( the "blues" especially )

I don't think it was particularly ironic that he was playing to an audience of old farts though, he's not exactly a spring chicken himself now is he ? And I bet the baby boomers in the audience didn't for one moment think of themselves as old farts !

The Hendrix number was the final piece unless there was an unbroadcast encore.

I think it was called Carnivore of the Animals.

This song's cutting and insightful lyrics described the human female as the most dangerous of carnivores, warning of the dire consequences to men who get too close.




Actually I couldn't understand more than about three words 

Fret not, Anty, it's all there awaiting editing, burning and posting....

I thought you said previously you liked the new layout of iplayer Mort?  I think it is decidedly carp as well.  If you go to the old LA via R3 homepage the Friday prom is listed (via World Service!) and on the new iplayer there is the folk prom.  So who's decided to hide our Nige?  Or were too many  people downloading it?  Did that cause the crash yesterday?

Ron, many thanks again in advance x

Ruth is right, it seems it will be a bit of a Nige featurette "The programme includes highlights from Kennedy's two recent Proms performances, including Elgar's Violin Concerto, and a selection from his Late Night Jazz Prom with the Nigel Kennedy Quintet. Kennedy also talks about his life and career."

Tomorrow afternoon the Bax/Finzi/Elgar will be repeated on R3.