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The
String Band's first gig L - R Bobby Macindoe, Roger Young,
Issie Morse, Sarah Morse, Jeremy Alsop and Noel Kennedy |
The
Indelible String Band
This is/was always an incredibly ambitious project when I reflect
on it. It first came to light in 2019 when I began receiving
prompts from maestro Noel Kennedy in the form of mp3s that purported
to be songs from my vintage repertoire, but beautifully rearranged
for a string quintet. It all culminated in a valiant performance
at the Brunswick Ballroom in late 2021, (pic) which was nearly
aborted when the maestro suffered a heart attack and underwent
an operation to insert four stents only days before the scheduled
performance!
Given the circumstances I still have trouble judging the merits
of the concept, even after reviewing the videos provided by
the always-supportive Peter Lamont who filmed the entire show.
As a result the String Band project is in hiatus at present
while Noel and I consider various possibilities.
It's such a noble concept - there were moments I actually teared
up, it all sounded so beautiful - and the support and generosity
of everybody involved was overwhelming.
No damn it! The Indelible String Band has to step up once more
and re-present a fully realised version of Noel's vision to
an adoring public. Let it be so!
*See the String Band in
rehearsal on YouTube |
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Noel
Kennedy
Noel
Kennedy began playing keyboards in rock bands around the Ballarat
region in the early seventies. His frequent trips down to Melbourne
enamoured him of the young bands of the era, like Carson, Daddy
Cool, Chain and Spectrum.
He has played with numerous bands over the years including Supernaut
and Peter Blakeley. In 1992 he moved with his wife Kathy and
family to Auckland, where his music was featured on tv commercials
and documentaries, in addition writing scores for children books
with Radio NZ and Scholastic.
In 2006 -2009 he attended Auckland University studying Jazz
Piano and Arranging.
He now resides in Melbourne and, as well as preparing arrangements
for the anticipated Mike Rudd’s Indelible String Band,
performs with the Jazz trio, Green Dolphin Street.
Noel is also currently working on the score for the up coming
Australian feature film The Ninth Order. |
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