RANDI FISHENFELD was born in Brooklyn, NY. Described as a "Tornado on the violin, who can bow life into the dead," she is a classically trained violinist, turned "bombshell electric violinist" that plays anything from Latin, Metal, Blues, Gypsy, Hot Swing, Rock, Fusion, Klezmer, R&B, Classical to World Beat. Randi studied privately with Julliard Professor, Sylvan Schulman, who told her parents that she would be "a real fiddler."
Randi began to experiment with different genres when she was a little girl. She believed the violin was a "really cool" instrument that could work with any type of music. Randi played with several bands. Her group, Blue Fire is an exciting 5-piece eclectic rock, blues, etc. ensemble comprised of guitar (Nick Cucunato), bass (Rich Velasquez), drums (Jeff Lafferty), keyboard (Paul Pettitt) and violin (Randi Fishenfeld). Randi worked with Clarence Clemons, Bruce Springsteen, B.B. King, Nestor Torres, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gerry Brown, Air Supply, Journey, Kansas, America, Andy Aledort, Foghat, Dave Valentine and Divine Empire. Influences: Joe Venutti, Stephane Grappelli, Stuff Smith, Papa John Creach, Led Zepplin, King Crimson, Dixie Dreggs, UK, Pink Floyd, Astor Piazzolla, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Stevie Wonder, Jeff Beck, Jean Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke, Stanley Jordan and various other artists.
The violinist for the Blue Fire Band, Randi left the field of law as a licensed attorney to pursue her musical dreams. Music had always been Randi's first love and, in 1995, she decided to devote all her attention to music. Since then, she has played with the L. I. SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, international recording artists AIR SUPPLY and the well known rock band FOGHAT, among others. Currently, as well as her duties with BLUE FIRE she works with CLARENCE CLEMONS of BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND fame, and his band called THE BAND OF FAITH. Randi’s energy and movement on stage is the engine that drives BLUE FIRE’S very exciting show.
Randi was a featured performer on the 1998 Gaiafest Celebration of Mother Earth with Women in Jazz produced by Joan Cartwright in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Websites:
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Randi Fishenfeld on MUSICWOMAN LIVE! Radio with Diva JC
Thanks to David Pearlman for photographs.