Editing Nigel Kennedy

{{Short description|English violinist and violist (born 1956)}}
{{for multi|the politician|Nigel Kennedy (politician)|the cricketer|Nigel Kennedy (cricketer)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Nigel Kennedy
| image = Nigel Kennedy (3).jpg
| caption = Kennedy performing in 2010
| landscape = yes
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1956|12|28}}
| birth_place = [[Brighton]], Sussex, England
| death_date =
| instrument = {{hlist|[[Violin]]|[[viola]]|[[piano]]}}
| genre = {{hlist|[[Classical music|Classical]]|[[Pop music|pop]]|[[rock music|rock]]|[[jazz music|jazz]]|[[klezmer]]}}
| occupation = Musician
| years_active = 1984–present
| label               = [[EMI Classics]]
| website             =
}}
[[File:Nigel Kennedy DSC0021B.jpg|thumb|upright|Nigel Kennedy Szczawnica – Jaworki,  Poland]]
'''Nigel Kennedy''' (born 28 December 1956) is an English [[violin]]ist and [[viola|violist]].

His early career was primarily spent performing [[classical music]], and has since expanded into [[jazz music|jazz]], [[klezmer]], and other music genres.

==Early life and background==
Kennedy's grandfather was [[Lauri Kennedy]], principal cellist with the [[BBC Symphony Orchestra]],<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RfpLcZf6zaoC&q=nigel+kennedy+lauri&pg=PA51 |title=John White, Lionel Tertis |access-date=11 August 2010|isbn=978-1843832782 |last1=White |first1=John |year=2006 |publisher=Boydell Press }}</ref> and his grandmother was Dorothy Kennedy, a pianist. Lauri and Dorothy Kennedy were Australian, while their son, the cellist [[John Kennedy (cellist)|John Kennedy]], was born in England. After graduating from the [[Royal Academy of Music]] in London, at age 22, John joined the [[Royal Liverpool Philharmonic|Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra]], later becoming the principal cellist of Sir [[Thomas Beecham]]'s [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]]. While in England, John developed a relationship with an English pianist, Scylla Stoner, with whom he eventually toured in 1952 as part of the Llewellyn-Kennedy Piano Trio (with the violinist [[Ernest Llewellyn]]; Stoner was billed as "Scylla Kennedy" after she and John married). But they ultimately divorced, and John returned to Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/music/musicology/info/topics/instrument_and_repertoire/instrument_violin_kennedy.htm |title=NSW HSC online |publisher=Hsc.csu.edu.au |access-date=11 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310212852/http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/music/musicology/info/topics/instrument_and_repertoire/instrument_violin_kennedy.htm |archive-date=10 March 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Kennedy was born in [[Brighton]]. A child prodigy, as a 10-year-old he picked out [[Fats Waller]] tunes on the piano after hearing his stepfather's jazz records.<ref>{{cite web | author=Duncan Seaman | url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/yorkshire-living/arts/music/music-interview-nigel-kennedy-1-5481176 | title=Music interview: Nigel Kennedy | work=The Yorkshire Post | date=8 March 2013 | access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref> At the age of 7, he became a pupil at the [[Yehudi Menuhin School]] of Music.<ref>{{cite web | author=Christina Patterson | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/nigel-kennedy-still-pulling-the-strings-8095678.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/nigel-kennedy-still-pulling-the-strings-8095678.html |archive-date=20 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=Nigel Kennedy: Still pulling the strings | work=The Independent | date=31 August 2012 | access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref> He later studied at the [[Juilliard School]] in New York City with [[Dorothy DeLay]]. While there he helped to pay for his studies by busking with fellow student and cellist [[Thomas Demenga]].

==Musical career==
===Until 2000===
At the age of 16, Kennedy was invited by jazz violinist [[Stéphane Grappelli]] to appear with him at New York's [[Carnegie Hall]].<ref name="GuardArt1">{{cite web | author=Alfred Hickling | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/sep/29/classicalmusicandopera2 | title=If you need a pillock, call me | work=The Guardian | date=29 September 2006 | access-date=5 December 2007}}</ref> He made his recording debut in 1984 with [[Edward Elgar|Elgar's]] [[Violin Concerto (Elgar)|Violin Concerto]]. His subsequent recording of [[Antonio Vivaldi|Vivaldi]]'s ''[[The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)|The Four Seasons]]'' with the [[English Chamber Orchestra]] in 1989 sold over two million copies and earned a place as one of the best-selling of all classical recordings.<ref name="CNN1">{{cite web | author=Steve Wright | url=http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9908/23/wb.kennedy/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427132629/http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9908/23/wb.kennedy/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=27 April 2006 | title=Not quite Vivaldi: Nigel Kennedy remembers Hendrix | work=CNN | date=23 August 1999 | access-date=5 December 2007}}</ref> The album remained at the top of the UK classical charts for over a year, with total sales of over three million units.<ref>{{cite web | author=John Brunning | url=http://www.classicfm.com/artists/nigel-kennedy/news/vivaldi-four-seasons-conversation/ | title=How Nigel Kennedy changed classical music forever | work=Classic FM Magazine | date=3 September 2014 | access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref>

In 1992, Kennedy announced the end of his career in classical music.<ref name="DW2016">{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/en/the-classical-music-pop-star-nigel-kennedy-at-60/a-36923474|title=The classical music pop star: Nigel Kennedy at 60|work=DW|date=28 December 2016|access-date=25 September 2021}}</ref> Around this time, he recorded the album ''Music in Colours'' with [[Stephen Duffy]]. He returned to the international concert platform in the mid-1990s. In 1997, he received an award for [[Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music|Outstanding Contribution to British Music]] at the [[BRIT Awards]], and in 2001 received the 'Male Artist of the Year' award.<ref name="Church">{{cite web | author=Michael Church | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/nigel-kennedy-dont-just-sit-there-do-something-polish-1980487.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/nigel-kennedy-dont-just-sit-there-do-something-polish-1980487.html |archive-date=20 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=Nigel Kennedy: Don't just sit there. Do something Polish | work=The Independent | date=3 September 2014 | access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref>

In other music genres, Kennedy recorded a cover of [[Jimi Hendrix]]'s "[[Fire (The Jimi Hendrix Experience song)|Fire]]" for the 1993 album ''[[Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix]]''. The same year, he made an appearance on [[Robert Plant]]'s solo album [[Fate of Nations]] on the track "Calling to you". In 1999, [[Sony Classical]] released ''[[The Kennedy Experience]]'', which featured [[Musical improvisation|improvisational recordings]] based on Hendrix [[musical composition|compositions]].<ref>{{cite web | author=Mark Coles | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/368573.stm | title=Kennedy plays Hendrix | work=BBC News | date=18 June 1999 | access-date=5 December 2007}}</ref> Kennedy's autobiography, ''Always Playing'', was published in 1991.<ref>Nigel Kennedy ''Always Playing''. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1991 {{ISBN|0-297-81209-2}}</ref>

===Since 2000===
In 2000, he recorded ''Riders on the Storm: The Doors Concerto'' (with [[Jaz Coleman]]), a violin-based orchestral version of [[The Doors|Doors]] songs, including "[[Strange Days (Doors song)|Strange Days]]", "[[L.A. Woman]]", "[[The End (The Doors song)|The End]]", and "[[Riders on the Storm]]". On 27 November 2000, Kennedy joined rock group [[The Who]] at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] to play the violin solo in the song "[[Baba O'Riley]]", released three years later on the album ''[[Live at the Royal Albert Hall (The Who album)|Live at the Royal Albert Hall]]''. Kennedy also played on several tracks – including "[[Experiment IV]]" – by British singer-songwriter [[Kate Bush]], who was a guest on Kennedy's episode of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]''. He was featured on two of [[Sarah Brightman]]'s songs for her 2003 album ''[[Harem (album)|Harem]]''. He has explored [[Klezmer]] music with the Polish jazz band [[Kroke]].<ref>[[Richard Morrison (music critic)|Richard Morrison]], "Nigel Kennedy returns to the BBC Proms". ''[[The Times]]'', 11 July 2008.</ref> In late 2005, Kennedy recorded his first album for the [[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]] jazz label, released as ''Blue Note Sessions'', with [[Ron Carter]] on double bass, [[Jack DeJohnette]] on drums and saxophonist [[Joe Lovano]].

Kennedy returned to the 2008 [[Proms]] after an absence of 21 years, performing [[Edward Elgar|Elgar's]] [[Violin Concerto (Elgar)|Violin Concerto]] and a late-night Prom with the Nigel Kennedy Quintet.<ref>{{cite web |author=[[Anthony Holden]]| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jul/27/classicalmusicandopera | title=Such affectation, but such virtuosity |work=[[The Observer]]| date=26 July 2008 | access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref> He was appointed artistic director of the Polish Chamber Orchestra and in 2010, founded the Orchestra of Life, an ensemble of mainly Polish musicians.<ref name="DW2016" />

In August 2013, he again returned to the Proms performing ''The Four Seasons'' at a concert featuring Kennedy with a group of young Palestinian musicians, the Palestine Strings from the [[Edward Said National Conservatory of Music|Edward Said Conservatory of Music]], and the Orchestra of Life. According to Michael Church of ''The Independent'', in the first movement "Spring", Kennedy "swerved off-course with a flurry of bird-tweets followed by a jazz riff from his bassist; the staccato chords of the next movement were decorated by a microtonal Arabic riff from one of the guest players".<ref>{{cite news|last=Church|first=Michael|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/reviews/classical-review-proms-33-and-34-nigel-kennedy-orientalises-vivaldi-and-mitsuko-uchida-casts-spells-beethoven-8753856.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/reviews/classical-review-proms-33-and-34-nigel-kennedy-orientalises-vivaldi-and-mitsuko-uchida-casts-spells-beethoven-8753856.html |archive-date=20 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Classical review: Proms 33 and 34: Nigel Kennedy Orientalises Vivaldi and Mitsuko Uchida casts spells with Beethoven|work=The Independent|date=9 August 2013|access-date=25 September 2021}}</ref> Near the end of the concert, the BBC removed the violinist's attribution of [[Israel and apartheid|apartheid to Israel]] from the television broadcast on [[BBC4]]. The comments were broadcast live on [[BBC Radio 3]]. A representative of the Corporation said they did not "fall within the editorial remit of the Proms as a classical music festival."<ref name="Tgraph2013">{{cite news| last=Bingham|first=John | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10258077/BBC-accused-of-censorship-after-cutting-Nigel-Kennedys-Israel-statement-from-Proms.html | title=BBC accused of 'censorship' after cutting Nigel Kennedy's Israel statement from Proms | work=The Telegraph | date=21 August 2013 | access-date=25 September 2021}}</ref><ref name="JPost">{{Cite news|date=18 August 2013 | title=Report: BBC to cut Israel 'apartheid' comments from UK concert broadcast | url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Report-BBC-to-cut-Israel-apartheid-remarks-from-UK-concert-broadcast-323419 | work=The Jerusalem Post | access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref> Kennedy said:
{{Blockquote| Ladies and gentlemen, it's a bit facile to say it but we all know from experiencing this night of music tonight, that given equality, and getting rid of apartheid, gives a beautiful chance for amazing things to happen.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dysch|first=Marcus|date=16 August 2013 | title=BBC to cut Kennedy slur from Proms broadcast|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/110366/bbc-cut-kennedy-slur-proms-broadcast|work=The Jewish Chronicle|access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref>}} Kennedy objected to the removal of his remarks from the broadcast. A condition of the booking, to which Kennedy had agreed, was not making such a comment, according to his manager.<ref name="Tgraph2013" />

Kennedy also plays the viola, and has recorded Sir [[William Walton]]'s [[Viola Concerto (Walton)|Viola Concerto]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viola-in-music.com/Nigel-Kennedy.html |title=Nigel Kennedy and the viola |publisher=Viola-in-music.com |access-date=11 August 2010}}</ref> Kennedy's own compositions include incidental music for [[Chekhov]]'s play [[Three Sisters (play)|''Three Sisters'']].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Kettle|first1=David|title=Review: My World – Kennedy: Dedications, Three Sisters|journal=The Strad|date=March 2017|url=http://www.thestrad.com/review/world-kennedy-dedications-three-sisters/|access-date=23 March 2017|location=Braintree, UK}}</ref> Kennedy published his second autobiography, ''Nigel Kennedy Uncensored!'', in 2021.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kennedy|first=Nigel|year=2021|title=Nigel Kennedy Uncensored!|publisher=Fonthill Media|isbn=978-1-78155-856-0}}; {{cite news|last=Morrison|first=Richard|author-link=Richard Morrison (music critic)|date=18 December 2021|title=''Nigel Kennedy Uncensored!'' review – plays like an angel, acts like a prat|work=[[The Times]]|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/nigel-kennedy-uncensored-by-nigel-kennedy-review-jcmg8grnt}}</ref>

===Image===

In 1991, the Controller of [[BBC Radio 3]] [[John Drummond (arts administrator)|John Drummond]] criticised Kennedy describing him as "a [[Liberace]] for the nineties" and objected to his "ludicrous" clothes and "self-invented accent".<ref>{{cite web | author=Paul Kelso | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/aug/30/paulkelso | title=Kennedy hits back at arts elitism | work=The Guardian | date=30 August 2000 | access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref>

Until 2006, Kennedy expressed his intention of not appearing on the classical London concert scene with a London orchestra, which was seen by some as arrogance,<ref name="GuardArt1"/> although he rationalised it in terms of frustrated perfectionism:

<blockquote>It all comes down to the amount of rehearsal you get, or don't get, in this country. I insist on three or four sessions prior to a concert, and orchestral administrators won't accommodate that. If I didn't care about getting it right, I could do three concerts in the same amount of time and earn three times the money. But you can't do something properly in less time than it takes.<ref name="GuardArt1"/></blockquote>

Kennedy expresses a preference<ref>booklet Beethoven violin concerto (1992)</ref> for the immediate appeal of live performance, and often records entire works or movements in single [[takes]] to preserve this sense in his recordings. He also introduces improvised elements to his performances, as in his [[Jimi Hendrix]]-inspired [[cadenza]] to [[Violin Concerto (Beethoven)|Beethoven's Violin Concerto]] and his [[jazz]] and [[jazz-rock fusion|fusion]] recordings.

In September 2021, Kennedy cancelled a performance at the Royal Albert Hall after the host, [[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]], prevented him from including a Jimi Hendrix composition at the concert. He had intended to perform a version of "[[Little Wing]]" in the manner of [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Alberge|first=Dalya|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/20/violinist-nigel-kennedy-cancels-concert-after-classic-fm-stops-hendrix-tribute|title=Violinist Nigel Kennedy cancels concert after Classic FM stops Hendrix tribute|work=The Guardian|date=20 September 2021|access-date=25 September 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life and politics==
Kennedy was romantically involved with singer/guitarist [[Brix Smith]] after she had broken up from and divorced husband [[Mark E. Smith]] in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2006/mar/25/homes2|title=Brix and mortar|first=Laura|last=Barton|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=25 March 2006}}</ref> Kennedy currently divides his time among residences in [[Malvern, Worcestershire]] where his former girlfriend Eve Westmore and son Sark Yves Amadeus (born in 1997) reside, London and [[Kraków]], Poland. He has been married twice; his second wife, Agnieszka (née Chowaniec), is a Polish actress and artistic director, born in April 1977.<ref name="GuardArt1"/><ref>{{cite web | author=Stephen Pritchard | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/apr/13/classicalmusicandopera.proms | title=Return of the prodigal son | work=The Observer | date=13 April 2008 | access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref>

Kennedy acknowledges regularly smoking [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] to aid his creativity.<ref>{{cite news|author=Allan Hall and Victoria Ward | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/8043722/Nigel-Kennedy-admits-smoking-cannabis-at-drugs-raid-party.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Nigel Kennedy admitted smoking cannabis at drugs raid party | date=5 October 2010}}</ref>

===Football===
Kennedy is an [[Aston Villa F.C.]] supporter.<ref name="GuardArt1"/> At [[Przystanek Woodstock]] 2010, he had his orchestra wear Aston Villa shirts and led the crowd in the team's [[football chant|chants]]. While living and recording in Poland, he also took an active interest in [[KS Cracovia (football)|KS Cracovia]], in whose 100th anniversary club replica kit he appeared.

===Politics===
Kennedy is an avowed socialist.<ref>{{cite news| author=Victoria King | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14342674 | work=BBC News | title=Tory MP Louise Mensch 'probably took drugs in club' | date=29 July 2011}}</ref> He supported [[David Davis (British politician)|David Davis]]'s campaign when he quit his Shadow [[Home Secretary]] post to force a by-election, in protest over proposals to allow terrorist suspects to be locked up for 42 days without charge. Kennedy is a vocal opponent of [[Israel]]'s policies in the [[West Bank]], and, in the summer of 2007, he told a ''[[Haaretz]]'' reporter:

{{Blockquote| I was shocked to see these walls, it's a new [[Israel and apartheid|apartheid]], barbaric behaviour: How can you impose such a collective punishment and separate people? After all, we are all living on the same planet. It seems to me the world should have already learned from what happened in South Africa. And a country that hasn't learned should be [[boycotts of Israel|boycotted]], so that's why I don't perform in your country.<ref>{{cite web | author=Noam Ben Zeev | url=http://www.haaretz.com/life/arts-leisure/first-violin-prelude-to-dialogue-1.235776 | title=First violin / Prelude to dialogue | work=Haaretz | date=24 December 2007 | access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref>}}

===Honours===
In 1991, he was awarded an honorary degree (Doctor of Letters, or Litt.D.) by the [[University of Bath]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bath.ac.uk/ceremonies/hongrads/ |title=Honorary Graduates 1989 to present |publisher=[[University of Bath]] |work=bath.ac.uk |access-date=18 February 2012 |archive-date=19 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219000643/http://www.bath.ac.uk/ceremonies/hongrads/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Discography==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions and notes
! rowspan="2"| Album
! rowspan="2"| Year
! colspan="5"| Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2"| Notes
|-
! scope="col" style="font-size:85%"| [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/4033/nigel-kennedy/|title=Nigel Kennedy {{!}} full Official Chart History|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="font-size:85%"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref>{{cite Ryan|page=152}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="font-size:85%"| [[SNEP|FRA]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Nigel+Kennedy|title=Discographie Nigel Kennedy|website=lescharts.com|language=fr|access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="font-size:85%"| [[Dutch Album Top 100|NLD]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Nigel+Kennedy|title=Discografie Nigel Kennedy|website=dutchcharts.nl|language=nl|access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="font-size:85%"| [[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Nigel+Kennedy|title=Discography Nigel Kennedy|website=charts.nz|access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''Plays Jazz'' (Chandos)
| rowspan="3"| 1984
| — || — || — || — || —
| Piano: Peter Pettinger
|-
! scope="row"| ''Salut d'Amour & Other Elgar Favourites'' (Chandos)
| — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| ''Elgar: Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61'' (EMI)
| 97 || — || — || — || —
| [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]], [[Vernon Handley]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Tchaikovsky; Violin Concerto / Chausson: Poeme'' (EMI)
| rowspan="2"| 1986
| — || — || — || — || —
| [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]], [[Okko Kamu]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Bartók: Mainly Black / Ellington: Sonata for Solo Violin'' (EMI)
| — || — || — || — || —
| with [[Alec Dankworth]] (double bass)
|-
! scope="row"| ''Walton: Violin Concerto / Viola Concerto'' (EMI)
| rowspan="2"| 1987
| — || — || — || — || —
| [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]], [[André Previn]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Let Loose''
| — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| ''Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor / Bruch: Violin Concerto No.1 / Schubert: Rondo in A'' (EMI)
| rowspan="2"| 1988
| 28 || — || — || 75 || —
| [[English Chamber Orchestra]], [[Jeffrey Tate]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Sibelius: Violin Concerto'' (EMI)
| — || — || — || — || —
| [[City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra]], Sir [[Simon Rattle]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Vivaldi: The Four Seasons'' (EMI)
| 1989
| 3 || 12 || 35 || 15 || 3
| [[English Chamber Orchestra]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Brahms: Violin Concerto in D, Op.&nbsp;77'' (EMI)
| 1991
| — || 71 || — || 76 || 29
| [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]], [[Klaus Tennstedt]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Just Listen: Sibelius: Violin Concerto / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto'' (EMI)
| rowspan="2"| 1992
| — || — || — || — || —
| [[City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra]], Sir [[Simon Rattle]] / [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]], [[Okko Kamu]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Beethoven: Violin Concerto''
| — || — || — || — || —
| [[NDR Symphony Orchestra]], [[Klaus Tennstedt]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto'' (EMI)
| 1993
| — || — || — || — || —
| [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]], [[Okko Kamu]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Kafka'' (EMI)
| 1996
| 67 || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| ''Elgar: Violin Concerto / Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending'' (EMI)
| 1997
| — || — || — || — || —
| (as Kennedy), [[City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra]], Sir [[Simon Rattle]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Kreisler'' (EMI)
| 1998
| — || — || — || — || —
| (as Kennedy)
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[The Kennedy Experience]]'' (Sony)
| rowspan="2"| 1999
| — || — || — || — || —
| (as Kennedy)
|-
! scope="row"| ''Classic Kennedy'' (EMI)
| — || — || — || — || —
| (as Kennedy)
|-
! scope="row"| ''Duos for Violin & Cello'' (EMI)
| rowspan="3"| 2000
| — || — || — || — || —
| as Kennedy with [[Lynn Harrell]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Riders on the Storm: The Doors Concerto'' (Decca)
| — || — || — || — || —
| as Kennedy with [[Jaz Coleman]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Kennedy Plays Bach'' (EMI)
| — || 73 || 47 || — || —
| (as Kennedy)
|-
! scope="row"| ''Greatest Hits'' (EMI)
| 2002
| 71 || — || — || — || —
| with various artists
|-
! scope="row"| ''Vivaldi''
| rowspan="2"| 2003
| — || — || — || — || 36
| [[Berliner Philharmoniker]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[East Meets East]]'' (EMI)
| — || — || — || — || —
| with [[Kroke]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Vivaldi II'' (EMI)
| 2004
| — || — || 39 || — || —
| [[Berliner Philharmoniker]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Legend: Beethoven and Bruch'' (CD+DVD) (EMI)
| 2005
| — || — || — || — || —
| [[NDR Symphony Orchestra]], [[Klaus Tennstedt]] / [[English Chamber Orchestra]], [[Jeffrey Tate]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Nigel Kennedy Plays Bach'' (DVD) (EMI)
| rowspan="4"| 2006
| — || — || — || — || —
| [[Irish Chamber Orchestra]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Inner Thoughts'' (EMI)
| — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| ''Kennedy, Live at La Citadelle'' (DVD) (EMI)
| — || — || — || — || —
| Polish Chamber Orchestra
|-
! scope="row"| ''The Blue Note Sessions'' (Blue Note)
| — || — || 107 || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| ''The Platinum Collection'' (EMI)
| rowspan="2"| 2007
| — || — || — || — || —
| with various artists
|-
! scope="row"| ''Polish Spirit'' (EMI)
| — || — || — || — || —
| Polish Chamber Orchestra, [[Jacek Kaspszyk]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Beethoven: Violin Concerto / Mozart: Violin Concerto No.4 / [[Horace Silver]]: Creepin In'' (EMI)
| rowspan="2"| 2008
| 99 || — || — || — || —
| Polish Chamber Orchestra
|-
! scope="row"| ''A Very Nice Album'' (EMI)
| — || — || — || — || —
| Nigel Kennedy Quintet (Nigel Kennedy, electric violin; Adam Kowalewski, bass; Paweł Dobrowolski, drums; Tomasz Grzegorski, tenor sax; Piotr Wyleżoł, piano) with vocals by Xantoné Blacq & Chris Loung; Sylwia Wójcik, cello; Suzy Willison-Kawalec, harp;
|-
! scope="row"| ''SHHH!'' (EMI)
| 2009
| — || — || — || — || —
| Nigel Kennedy Quintet (Nigel Kennedy, electric violin; Adam Kowalewski, contrabass & electric bass; Krzysztof Dziedzic, drums; Tomasz Grzegorski, tenor sax, soprano sax & bass clarinet; Piotr Wyleżoł, piano & Hammond) with vocals by [[Boy George]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''The Very Best of Nigel Kennedy'' (EMI)
| 2010
| — || — || — || — || —
| with various artists
|-
! scope="row"| ''The Four Elements''
| 2011
| — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| [[Recital (Nigel Kennedy album)|''Recital'']] (Sony)
| 2013
| — || — || — || — || —
| Nigel Kennedy Quintet (Nigel Kennedy, violin, celeste; Rolf Bussalb, acoustic guitar & 12 string; Yaron Stavi, bass; Krzysztof Dziedzic, drums; Barbara Dziewiecka, 2nd violin, viola)
|-
! scope="row"| ''The New Four Seasons''
| 2014
| — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row"| ''My World''
| 2016
| — || — || — || — || —
| Composed by Nigel Kennedy, with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra & The Stella
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
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{{Commons category|Nigel Kennedy}}
* [http://www.emiclassics.com/artistdiscography.php?aid=55 Kennedy's discography] at [[EMI Classics]]
* [https://archive.today/20051018122431/http://www.sonyclassical.com/music/61687/home.html ''The Kennedy Experience''] at [[Sony Classical Records|Sony Classical]]
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=q33050}}
* [http://www.cmusictv.com/?id=29&tid=336 Television Interview with Nigel Kennedy from C Music TV]
{{Penguin Cafe Orchestra}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Nigel}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century English male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century British classical violinists]]
[[Category:British expatriates in Poland]]
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[[Category:EMI Classics and Virgin Classics artists]]
[[Category:English classical musicians]]
[[Category:English classical violinists]]
[[Category:English classical violists]]
[[Category:English violinists]]
[[Category:English violists]]
[[Category:Electric violinists]]
[[Category:Juilliard School alumni]]
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[[Category:People educated at Yehudi Menuhin School]]
[[Category:Musicians from Brighton]]
[[Category:21st-century violists]]