David Garrett

David Garrett at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California on January 18, 2012

On January 18, international star David Garrett made a return to Los Angeles, playing to a crowd of at least three generations wide at Club Nokia. Most of the seats were filled on the Wednesday night, evident of the violinist’s success in drawing such a diverse audience. While strong in classical sensibilities (quite an understatement), he appears a master of composition as well. Each piece played was a beautiful melding of classical, pop, rock, and R&B, giving them a fresh reworking.

For the tour, Garrett is backed by a band of exceptional musicians, who would later take a turn in the spotlight. The two-set show included selections from his Rock Symphonies recordings, self title, and previous efforts. Opening the night with the James Bond theme mixed with Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”, as he played his way up the steps to the stage. A Paul McCartney and Justin Timberlake tracks would follow. The rest of the sets were peppered with Michael Jackson, Brahms, Beethoven (the 5th Symphony just never seems to get old when heard this way), and more. Among surprises of the night, was when Garrett used a pedal board to record multiple loops before playing them over one another, then launched into his rendition of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida. Another was a debuting of Oasis’ “Stop Crying Your Heart Out” before a chosen audience member, a wonderful take on the song. As long as the local rock station continues to play Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, it seems there is no escaping the song. He and the band took it and rocked it with aplomb. “Dueling Banjos” or rather a dueling of violin and guitar, was met with smiles and approving laughs.

Between the precise execution of his bow, and the blinding speed in which he can play (He does hold a Guinness World record for being the fastest violinist with Flight of the Bumblebee), I found it stunning how a pluck of a string can sound like a drop of water hitting a puddle, upon hearing “Human Nature”. The mixing of genres provided music that listeners perhaps would never listen to if it wasn’t united under such a front. The show was a welcome intoxication. . . Towards the end, the audience let out a unamimous “Awww. . .” upon the announcement that there was one more number, and rightfully so. The gentlemen would return to the stage for a rousing encore of Queen’s “We Will Rock You”. Rock, they did.

For info and tour dates:

http://david-garrett.com/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/davidgarrettofficial