Love him or hate him, Nigel Kennedy can play a mean fiddle. And on Riders on the Storm: The Doors Concerto, the violinist, arranger Jaz Coleman, and the Prague Symphony Orchestra pay energetic tribute to--who else?--the Do... more »ors. These instrumental string arrangements try their damnedest to avoid becoming elevator-music covers, but they only vaguely resemble the Doors' originals. The violinist loves a jam, and these arrangements thankfully give him plenty of room to solo. The longer tracks--"Light My Fire" and "The End"--work best, with Kennedy offering inspired playing and plenty of drama. Doors fans may be interested in hearing fresh takes on their favorite tunes ("Riders on the Storm," "Light My Fire," "The Unknown Soldier," and more), but those accustomed to Kennedy's more classical endeavors may be disappointed. Oddly enough, the living members of the Doors have nothing but great things to say about this disc. Strange days, indeed. --Jason Verlinde« less
Love him or hate him, Nigel Kennedy can play a mean fiddle. And on Riders on the Storm: The Doors Concerto, the violinist, arranger Jaz Coleman, and the Prague Symphony Orchestra pay energetic tribute to--who else?--the Doors. These instrumental string arrangements try their damnedest to avoid becoming elevator-music covers, but they only vaguely resemble the Doors' originals. The violinist loves a jam, and these arrangements thankfully give him plenty of room to solo. The longer tracks--"Light My Fire" and "The End"--work best, with Kennedy offering inspired playing and plenty of drama. Doors fans may be interested in hearing fresh takes on their favorite tunes ("Riders on the Storm," "Light My Fire," "The Unknown Soldier," and more), but those accustomed to Kennedy's more classical endeavors may be disappointed. Oddly enough, the living members of the Doors have nothing but great things to say about this disc. Strange days, indeed. --Jason Verlinde
Stephen Britton | A quiet suburb outside NYC, USA | 12/11/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Outstanding! Fortunately for me, I first heard this CD as I was visiting a music store because I probably would not have bought it if I didn't hear it first. The thought of some orchestra playing Doors music sounds silly, but violinist Nigel Kennedy, Conductor Jaz Coleman and the Prague Symphony Orchestra really make everything work. The versions of "Riders on the Storm," "Love Street" and "Light My Fire," present Jim's music much more refined manner, yet still capture the energy that Jim Morrison put into all his songs. I have been listening to it for two straight days (as I did with the Morrison Hotel album 30 years ago) and I still want more. If you want to hear great music, get this CD, and if you love the Doors, this is a "must-have.""
Opening New Doors
Enrique Torres | San Diegotitlan, Califas | 11/07/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To quote the lyrics of an old R&B song " Do ya like good music, yeah, yeah," well, this is just that, good music. Never mind the purists on both sides of the fence, those who feel original Doors music stands alone and those that feel that this is not classical, concerto, schemrto! The treatment given to the Doors rock classics are reworked in a beautiful manner by Jaz Coleman, at times completely different, hardly recognizeable, and at others, just like Morrison and the boys. This past year I saw an incredible play entitled "Celebration of The Lizard King" a playwrights Apocalyptic vision of LA, complete with a small orchestra's version of Doors music, reinterpreted for the stage . The idea was similar in that the "theatre types" were listening to Doors music in a new and inventive manner, much like the crossover of musical fans from rock and classical are listening to this CD. Good music sustains pulling and tugging but never looses it's shape, it is still good stuff. This is like a heavy starched dress shirt and blue denim jeans, an odd mixture indeed but a wonderful listening experience. The music has a melancholy feel but it does not overwhelm the listener, music is joy and the feeling of joy overpowers any moments of "sadness". It could be that since this was dedicated to the survivors of the Vietnam War it has to have an inevitable sorrow to it. Maybe it is Kennedy(would I dare say Nigel?) and his ability to make his violin reach in and tear at your heart strings with each stroke of his violin. Whatever the reason, it is hardly anything to keep you from liking this CD immediately. This is not one of those three or four listens before you think you like it , it is pretty much an immediate, Wow! The accompanying boklet is truly superb, it opens five fold across and has notes on each song and some photographs that include the remaining Doors and visuals of the Vietnam legacy. The fact that Krieger, Manzarek and Densmore fully endorsed the project and stated that they think Morrison would be proud is good enough for me. The Prauge Symphony plays marvelously but the featured star is Kennedy without a doubt. I guess when he said he was "tired of playing dead people's music" he was not referring to Jim Morrison, because he plays the Lizard Kings music with fervor and renewed vitality."Spanish Caravan", 'Love Street","The End" and of course, "Light My fire" are some of my favorites, but really I like the "whole idea". Try to refrain from "conducting" the orchestra, or at least do it in private, no doubt you'll be moving those index fingers! A fresh treatment to some classic tunes, this is one that will get lot's of play on your CD player. Whether you lived during this tumultous period or not the music contained on this CD will move you."
Riders on Rock
Thomas F. Dillingham | Columbia, Missouri USA | 10/29/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Crossover efforts have recently captured a lot of attention, some deserved praise and some dismissal. Philip Glass's "Low" Symphony, the Finnish group, Apocalyptica, covering Metallica songs, and others have had some real success. It's not a new thing--Charles Ives famously incorporated popular melodies into his symphonies and other "classical" works, as did a number of European composers with their national musical traditions (Bartok, Kodaly, Mahler, Bruckner, etc.). Jaz Coleman attempts something like that with nine songs by the Doors, and for me, at least, he succeeds with about 7 of the 9. I am not convinced the name "concerto" is appropriate, but I bet he wanted to stay away from the more appropriate "suite," which would have sounded much too light. No question that Coleman is fortunate to have Kennedy and the Prague orchestra in his camp--the sheer brilliance of Kennedy's solos, coupled with the excellent orchestral playing, make even the weakest links of this music sound good. "Light My Fire," "Strange Days," "The End," and the title section are all smashing demonstrations of Kennedy's ability to send that music home. The weaker moments keep me from giving this a 5, but that should not dissuade anyone from getting this album--it's worth hearing, worth owning."
Beautiful, Smart
Bjorkfinity | Philadelphia, PA | 08/22/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If any rock group deserved to be recorded in classical arrangements it would be The Doors. This could have been thrown together haphazardly to make a quick buck like some classical rock recordings but thankfully it hasn't. A lot of work was put into this. The Doors were much more musical and clever than many rocks bands. Jim Morrison was an extremely dynamic and sensitive vocalist and Nigel Kennedy pays complete homage to him. There is nothing but utter respect for The Doors music here. They chose some of the best musical Doors songs but I wish they would have included The Crystal Ship with maybe a soft piano solo. I think "Crystal Ship" was Ray Manzarek's most creative work. These are very, very deep orchestrations and the feelings of the original songs are preserved throughout (although I had trouble with "Unknown Soldier" and "People are Strange"). You will hear new things every time you listen to it. The diversions in each piece are true to the original songs. Jim Morrison's melodies are eerily mimicked on many instruments and you can hear Jim's beauty and wonderful phrasing. "Spanish Caravan" features a very competent classical guitarist and the melody played by an extremely sensitive violinist. My favorite song on this recording "Love Street" (allegedly written for the street which Jim and Pamela Courson lived in Lauryl Canyon) is double the length of the original song, a very, very emotional, very beautiful and haunting composition. If one song could summarize Jim and Pam's relationship and their sad and tragic lives it would be this song. During "Love Street" one can envision Jim and Pam in an eternal embrace. The spirit of "Light my Fire" comes shining through, if not maybe a little too bouncy and campy and not soft enough. The violas play the left-hand organ accompanyment and there is plenty of counterpoint. I didn't quite understand "People are Strange". It is turned into a romantic and galloping song whereas the original song was quite odd and spacey with shifting vocal effects. I had the most trouble with "Unkown Soldier", it's highly romanticized and I didn't recognize it. Likewise, "Strange Days" is drawn out and romanticized with harps, etc. The End is extremely well done, the eastern modality gives you the sense of a caravan on an endless trek through the Sahara desert. The recording mix is perfect: the lead violinist or any of the other soloists are not sharp or favored in the least. I only wish this was a double CD and included other emotional songs like Queen of the Highway, Hyacinth House, Wild Child, Love Her Madly, LA Woman, Blue Sunday, Wishful Sinful, Unhappy Girl, The Soft Parade and definitely Moonlight Drive and The Crystal Ship. Ray Manzarek (and Robby/John) should be very proud of what Nigel Kennedy has done. I think Jim would be proud, too. You do not have to be a classical music lover to enjoy this recording, you will understand most of these songs. This is an absolutely wonderful CD to sit down and relax to. Thank you very much Nigel and Ray, please record more Doors!"
Classic Music Deserves Classic Treatment
John P. Morgan | Beautiful San Dimas, CA | 07/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I first saw this CD, I had some reservations. The Doors have always been one of my favorite rock groups of all time and now somebody was gutsy enough (or crazy enough) to try and set this to strings and a full blown orchestra. It could have easily ended up sounding cheesy and pretentious but what you get is a very beautiful recording that is just as intense and magnificent as the four LA boys that did rock proud did in the 1960s.
Riders on the Storm opens the CD and its haunting melody goes deep into your soul. It is spooky and powerful and tinged with Vietmanese musical references. This whole album is a tribute to all the men and women who fought in Vietnam and especially to those who didn't ever come back. The rendition of Light my Fire is passionate and yet ultimately fatal. It brought tears to my eyes. Spanish Caravan, Strange Days, and the Unknown Soldier all kind of leave you feeling as though you've experienced something that only the gods themselves are privileged enough to experience. It's kind of like the same feeling I had when I heard the actual group on the radio the first time. My senses felt raw yet my spirit was moved; my mind was aching with sweet delight and my heart remembered secret invisible magical forces that were quietly at work.
I am a true Doors fan and that is why I can, in good conscience recommend this CD. There will be those who say that it lacks the fire of the group that inspired this CD, but I think if Jim Morrison were alive today he would give this recording his approval.
This CD is edgy and brimming with intensity. It's a classic just like the group that inspired this recording. If you're a Doors fan, it's time to fall in love with them all over again. After listening to this particular CD, it gave me an even deeper appreciation for the group. It made me realize that even now powerful, hidden forces are always at work making magic infinitely more real than what may appear to be."