A RETURN to Malvern will see Nigel Kennedy exploring his classical and jazz roots as well as his former hometown.

Having had the honour of giving the first performance in the newly refurbished Malvern Theatres in April 1998, the virtuoso violinist who mixes unique talent and mass appeal will be sharing the sounds of those who inspired him.

Back then he played Beethoven's violin concerto and on Friday and Saturday, May 10-11 he will take to the stage of the Forum Theatre to celebrate the music of Bach and Fats Waller.

The concerts will open with a Bach violin solo before he is joined on stage by an acoustic guitarist, double bassist and percussionist to perform his own arrangements of the music of the legendary Fats Waller.

He is quite pleased with the timing of the venture, saying: “It seems to be coming back into vogue, so it’s quite fortunate I’m doing this project at the same time.”

Unlike some of his previous outlandish and loud offerings, this new direction will be a more chilled out affair, with Nigel hoping “to make my friends in the audience feel we are in a smaller room.”

During the second half his band will be comprised of Jarek Smietana on guitar, Yaron Stavi on bass and Krzysztof Dziedzic on drums.

Much of the programme for the two nights is drawn from his new album Recital, which was recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London.

It is music he grew up with and sounds that inspired him as well as some of his own compositions.

Among its 12 tracks are Kennedy’s own version of two pieces by Bach, arrangements of music made famous by the great jazz pianists and composers Fats Waller and Dave Brubeck, as well as two of his own compositions and three other pieces.

For the recording he was joined by four high-calibre musicians from the Orchestra of Life, with Rolf Bussalb on acoustic and twelve-string guitar, bassist Yaron Stavi, Polish percussionist Krzysztof Dziedzic and Barbara Dziewiecka playing second violin and viola.

Tickets are £39.50 or £42.50 and the concerts both start at 7.30pm.

For more information and tickets, go to malvern-theatres.co.uk or call the box office on 01684 892277.