“Durham Concerto” is decidedly more than just a Rock musician’s stab at trying to be “serious”. For one, Jon Lord has not discovered his love for orchestral music as a late hobby to keep the Post-Deep Purple era from being boring: “Classical music is something I have held in my heart since I was a young boy. “I had always written music and I started to play the classical piano at the age of six.”, Jon Lord said in advance of the release of the “Durham Concerto” album, “Rock and roll snapped my head around and indeed has defined my career, but it never stopped me from loving classical music.” And secondly, “Durham Concerto” will feature a rather unusual line-up for a classical record.

Next to the Mischa Damev conducting the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, “ Durham Concerto” offers solo contributions by Ruth Palmer (violin); Matthew Barley (cello); Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian Pipes) and, of course, Jon Lord himself on Hammond organ. The official Jon Lord site offers the link to an insightful interview with the composer courtesy of Metal Express Radio, in which he stresses the many different moods and ideas to be found on “Durham Concerto”.

Jon Lord’s “Durham Concerto” will hit record stores on Janury 28th.

Homepage: Jon Lord
Homepage: Avie Records