Some musicians stand up for their ideals, some only look at the money. Nigel Kennedy focused on integrity this last week when a radio station sponsoring a concert at the Royal Albert Hall demanded that Kennedy not perform Jimi Hendrix’s Little Wing as it wasn’t white enough for Classic FM’s loyal octonegarians.
Kennedy went on to say that the decision was culturally prejudiced and musical segregation, feeling that his orchestra of young Black and ethnically diverse musicians wasn’t suitable for this crowd. Or maybe just the folks in charge of the event.