| David Garrett | Primary Artist, Violin |
| Paco Peña | Flamenco Guitar |
| Rupert Coulson | Bazouki |
| James Genus | Double Bass |
| John Haywood | Piano, Harpsichord |
| Robbie McIntosh | Guitar |
| Ian On Awi Watson | Accordion |
| Thomas Dyani | Percussion |
| Jonathan Quarmby | Piano |
| Ray Vega | Trumpet |
| Mark Sheridan | Guitar, Flamenco Guitar |
| Robert Groslot | Conductor |
| Kevin Bacon | Bass |
| Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra | Performing Ensemble |
| Steven Wolf | Drums |
| Samantha Rowe | Cello |
| Giorgio Serci | Guitar |
| Kevin Bacon | Bass, Percussion |
| Rogier Van Wegberg | Bass Guitar |
| Ivan Kozhuharov | Conductor |
| Il Novecento | Performing Ensemble |
| Robbie McIntosh | Guitar |
| Ian Watson | Accordion |
| J. Haywood | Piano, Harpsichord |
| Ben Bryant | Drums |
| Francine van der Heijden | Guitar, Drums, Electric Guitar, Keyboards |
| Antonio Vivaldi | Composer |
| Bill Withers | Composer |
| Mikis Theodorakis | Composer |
| Tom Bailey | Engineer |
| Rupert Coulson | Producer, Engineering |
| John Haywood | Arranger, Producer |
| James Hetfield | Composer |
| Lars Ulrich | Composer |
| Angus Young | Composer |
| Malcolm Young | Composer |
| Hans Zimmer | Composer |
| Tom Coyne | Mastering |
| Jonathan Quarmby | Arranger, Producer |
| David Garrett | Arranger, Composer, Producer, Liner Notes |
| Kevin Bacon | Arranger, Producer |
| Klaus Badelt | Composer |
| Rob Sannen | Engineer |
| Kevin Bacon | Arranger, Producer |
| Tom Bailey | Engineer |
| Anthony Lui | Art Direction |
| Nicky Tavilla | grooming |
| J. Haywood | Arranger, Producer |
| Robert Eric Gaskell | Contributor |
| Vladislav Boyadjiev | Digital Editing |
| Wilfried van Vaelen | Engineer, Engineering |
| Francine van der Heijden | Arranger, Producer, Percussion Programming |
| Vittorio Monti | Composer |
There are very few kinds of music I don't like, so it's strange that I don't listen to a lot of it anymore. Usually I have an audio book going. But my sister gave me this album as a gift after listening to her copy and I was hooked; listened to nothing else while on the road for over 2 weeks. Violins are not my favorite instrument but the fast furious pieces like The Four Seasons, Rock Prelude, and Smooth Criminal kept me cruising along while the plaintive cry of the strings in Nothing Else Matters and Who Wants to Live Forever were heartbreaking. It's a well-balanced album and I look forward to seeing him in concert.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Wunderkind David Garrett grew up in Aachen, Germany and studied violin under Ida Haendel and Itzhak Perlman before graduating from Juilliard in 2004. As a child prodigy, he was subjected to a grueling rehearsal schedule of classical repertoire (he injured his back and shoulders recording Paganini: Caprices as a teen), but the freedom of NYC (including the huge music library at Juilliard and various clubs) opened up a new world of musical possibilities. David supplemented his income by modeling for print magazines like Vogue and Fashion Week for Armani while at Juilliard; his striking looks and broad crossover appeal have earned him the nickname "the David Beckham of classical music." Garrett's response? "He kind of drew a new audience to football, OK mostly female, but that's not a bad thing. I think that's why people actually say that because they know I really try very hard to get new audiences for classical music."
I first heard of David Garrett in a Barnes and Noble and was hooked. After watching numerous clips and interviews (both German and English) on YouTube, I was blown away by his utter confidence and poise. You can see at once that this is someone who truly loves music and his instrument (he plays both a 1717 Stradivarius and a 1772 Guadagnini, which he badly damaged after falling on it); just like growing up bilingually with a German father and American mother, he's equally at home as ambassador of classical and pop.
"David Garrett" is actually David's fourth solo album for Decca after Free, Virtuoso, and Encore, and most of the tracks are pulled from these three albums (I would have liked to see the inclusion of "Claire de Lune" from Encore). The themes run the gamut from Baroque (Vivaldi's "Summer" from the Four Seasons, Bach's "Air") to Romantic (Bizet's "Carmen Fantasie"), a dash of Italian Gypsy, modern rock (Metallica, Queen, AC/DC, Michael Jackson), film scores (Zorba the Greek, Pirates of the Caribbean), and original works ("Chelsea Girl," "Rock Prelude"). The album opens with a high-octane rendition of Vivaldi that might bring to mind Vanessa-Mae or perhaps the eccentric Nigel Kennedy, but David makes this all his own, and at breakneck speed.
My favorites are the uptempo tracks, particularly the "He's a Pirate" theme from Pirates of the Caribbean. This Hans Zimmer gem is a cross between sweeping score reminiscent of the Chieftains' score for TNT's "Treasure Island" with the stately delicacy of a bourrée. The xylophone echoes the violin, accented by triangle and harp. The intense "Smooth Criminal" opens with tympani mimicking a heartbeat...chilling and effective. David's aggressive bowing in the first part slides into a near-human wail as he duets with the electric guitar, then returns to the staccato melody. Queen and AC/DC are given similarly effective treatment. Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" also translates well to the violin medium, buoyed by the assertive piano bassline. I loved the rollicking "Zorba's Dance" but was a little underwhelmed by "Dueling Strings" (I just can't distance the song from Deliverance).
Overall, this is a fun, flashy album that showcases David's immense technical talent and will hopefully attract younger listeners to classical repertoire.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Groverox
Posted October 1, 2010
I saw David perform on a PBS special, and knew I wanted to hear more. This is an enjoyable mix of pop and classics, with David's unique spin on each track. A truly gifted violinist - love this and eagerly await his next CD!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
To say David Garret is a gifted and talented violinist would be an underestimation, as vibrantly revealed in this exhilarating CD. This CD is a true joy.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
Fabulous CD- Love it- going to see David Garrett in concert after hearing this CD! He is amazing!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 1, 2010
This is not your parents violin music. It is inspiring with its blend of violin, rock and pop. It is relaxing yet energizing at the same time.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
I Also Recommend:
I have some difficulty with the recording in that I use CD's in the car and have to keep adjusting the volume for his quiet moments and then when he gets enthursiastic the speakers blast. Would rather have a more steady level of volume. The performance, however, is wonderful. The music, beautiful. And the varieties of the mucical pieces are great.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
Great CD, I keep it in the CD player in my car for whenever I get bored with the radio, I never get bored of this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
This man is a genius. He has combined an amazing classical training with contemporary music. His aim is to ensnare young people into loving and appreciating classical music.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.MRedd
Posted October 1, 2010
I Also Recommend:
I discovered this CD while shopping in a Barnes and Noble store. It was playing in the store, and I immediately went to the audio department and bought the CD. It is a unique, eclectic mix of classical, pop, and original music. Garrett does a contemporary take on Vivaldi which takes the classical piece up a notch while on the same CD performing a distinctive violin cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal." Beautiful is the best word I can use to describe his rendition of "Ain't No Sunshine When You're Gone." Classical pieces mixed with rock, pop, and original songs are artfully mixed on one CD.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.When I first heard this cd, I had to have it. It's relaxing, but upbeat at the same time. I've never been a fan of the violin, but I am now. This cd is great for all types of people because of the mixture of songs played. When I hear Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal it makes me want to start dancing, but then I hear Who Wants To Live Forever and it reminds me of the great movie Highlander. I never thought that I would want to dance to the violin! If you're a true lover of music you'll want to add this one to your collection.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I'll preface this review by informing the reader that I love classical music and I'm pretty much not particular to any genre: I like anything from the baroque period to 20th century minimalism. I also love rock music. The form of classical music I hate? This neo-nu-classical nonsense that attempts to meld virtuosic classical performances with half-hearted synth-rock. It's not classical, it's not rock; it's merely cheesy and redundant swill that is designed to be swallowed by the masses: pre-packaged for your convenience and labelled as classical music, when in fact it is a demonization of both forms of music it attempts to combine.
I can't think of anything more ridiculous than trying to "spice up" subpar AC/DC and Metallica songs (two bands who are highly over-rated to begin with) and then having the audacity to cover a cover of a Michael Jackson song (that being the ill-fated version of the utterly crummy "Smooth Criminal" as covered by the ridiculously untalented Alien Ant Farm). I can't think of a single reason why any classical music fan (or any rock music fan for that matter) would want to listen to these covers (or any of Garrett's other forays into garbage) played over a souped-up electronica backbeat and digital processor. The mere notion of doing so is, for lack of a better term, corny. Do yourself a favor: pass on this.
1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Leah-moves-me
Posted October 1, 2010
some move the soul, others get you goin', absolutely love this cd, have turned friends and family onto it also, highly recommend
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Carmen84
Posted October 1, 2010
A wonderful mix of moods for your musical soul.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.hal-s
Posted October 1, 2010
David Garrett's performance is wonderful. This recording is a delightful mix of pop, rock and classical music. I love David's style and arrangements.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
I Also Recommend:
This is a nice mix of classical instruments and rock themes. David Garrett takes favorites from Queen, Metallica, and Michael Jackson and transforms them for a fresh sound. And just when you thinks he's done with the surprises, he finishes with Dueling Banjo's with actor Kevin Bacon.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Yoonie
Posted October 1, 2010
Not that original, but very well performed and very nice to listen to =D
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SheilaM
Posted October 1, 2010
I am blown away by David's talent and creativity. His work is unlike anything I've ever heard. Brilliant!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.StLouisCarl
Posted October 1, 2010
I love this CD as does my wife and five year old daughter. There is really something for everyone on this disc.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Tea_Lover
Posted October 1, 2010
I loved how the music was all instrumental, but still had pop and classical music. A very good performer who has a little to offer everyone.
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Editorial Reviews
All Music Guide - David Jeffries
Taking his career out of the world of Nigel Kennedy and into the realm of Twelve Girls Band and other flashy "spectacle" acts, David Garrett's self-titled album from 2009 emphasizes the classically arranged rock and pop numbers from his repertoire with a handful of familiar and true classical pieces thrown in. This American release was launched with a large television commercial campaign and is compiled from two British releases, 2007's Virtuoso and 2008's Encore. The big attractions are Garrett's orchestrated cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" (frantic and showy with crunchy guitar) and his own composition "Chelsea Girl" (one sappy and sentimental step away ...