Encore

Garrett plays any musical notes on the violin with consummate grace!

The classical reworking of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" is full of surprises and bursts with excitement throughout.

"Who Wants to Live Forever?" is dark, eerie, shockingly intense and operatic, and there is a sense of urgency that time is running short while there is so much to experience in life.

Debussy's free flowing "Clair de Lune" (moonlight) is beautiful and dreamlike. The shimmering violin melody and subtle harmonies evoke images of misty landscapes and a flowing river glistening in silvery moonlight.

"He's a Pirate" opens with calm and rising harmonies promising epic adventure (and a whiff of romance in the air). Jack's comic theme takes over, with all his pirate swagger and bravado. The over-the-top action music is great fun: heroic violin battles stylishly with elegantly menacing orchestra force in a swashbuckling tango; various percussion interjections add fun distractions while fog dissipates and small waves rock the boat during brief transitions (rumbling notes, mid-pitched strings). The track ends emphatically as if to incite curtain calls.

"Summertime" sounds very New York. The classical violin rendition, jazz-inflected and misty, perfectly captures the emotional ambiguity. The slow lilt is mesmerizing and the sweet soaring riffs are sensational yet intimate like loud whispers.

"Hungarian Dance No. 5" delights with fluid rhythm, expressive melody, wide leaps between notes, beautiful double stops and frequent key shifts at a ravishing mix of tempos.

In "Chelsea Girl" the emotionally charged violin tenderly kisses good-bye to every note to create a gorgeous tune.

Garrett has a new take on Vivaldi's "Summer" and it sounds like this: intense lightening flashes and loud bangs of thunder, followed by hail storm and heavy rainfall (flying bows at lightning speed!), rinsing dust off lush green foliage and refreshing the air.

"Air" starts off with teasing, even-paced keyboard notes, then the violin takes up the theme and sings the beautiful soaring tune with the most romantic inflection like early morning breeze.

"Thunderstruck" is loud fun, belting out rapid violin phrases, malicious tunes, majestic melodies, hard rock riffs, short sharp sonic stabs and loud bangs and blasts, all in rapid mutating rhythms following a pop song structure.

"New Day" is infinitely lyrical, compelling repeated listening to the poetic violin melody meandering through myriad emotions.

In "Ain't No Sunshine" the unhurried, impromptu musical phrasing has a laid-back feel.

"Rock Prelude" opens with space themed celestial soundscape and a star is born, bursting into melodic Rock in Baroque-tinged fast harmonic rhythms reminiscent of Bach.

"Winter Lullaby" features a lovely violin tune, cute and sweet at a baby-step tempo. Insistent shakes of tambourine (middle section, background) make the soft, velvety violin even more huggable.

In "Zorba's Dance" the flirty, playful violin tune is infinitely improvisational and so inviting that no one would hesitate to join the fun and dance the night away.

Bonus: See booklet for Garrett's amusing stories and musical ideas prefacing each track.

Encore does indeed leave you wanting more from this talented player. Just relax in a warm bath and let this music wash over you. The cover isn't bad either!!!!

Fantastic album. I am currently learning the violin and was after something to encourage me and be inspirational. I certainly got that from this album. I will defiantly be ordering more David Garret albums.

He mixes classical and rock together to get something purely unique!