ralphe armstrong is hands down my favorite fusion bass player. his are the only bass solos i can listen to. so much humor in his playing. the live album from 78 is hands down my favorite fusion record ever.
I first checked Ponty out in the early eighties as a teenager. I got Mystical Adventures which I did like. Then Individual Choice which was ok, but not enough for me to delve any deeper. Then later I picked up On The Wings of Music which again I thought was ok (as I said Ndugu put me off that, I love his drumming, but not on that album). Then later when I was getting everything I could with Holdsworth I got Enigmatic Ocean (for his solos). I assumed the other albums would suffer as many late seventies fusion albums do. But no....I was wrong. These hit the spot. It happened the other way too, The first Lee Ritenour album I got was Captain Fingers which in places is stupendous, so I then picked up a couple of other Ritenour albums...they were awful....
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Yep. I had the same path with Ritenour. For Ponty, a drummer friend knew I liked Smith, so he suggested Enigmatic, and his guitarist loved Allan, so that's where I started. Lucky, because I purposefully went outward in time from there. The couple after, the couple before, which just so happend to encapsulate that era. We did a Ranking show for ProgSeat, and it was tough, so I feel your pain on that score.
Love Jean Luc. My very first concert... yah, I was odd. Enigmatic Ocean is a masterpiece! I still think Steve Smith's playing is unequaled. Equally important, Jean Luc's music cracked me open, making instrumental music available to my ear. From there, the world opened up to me... from Coltrane to Bill Monroe. I will always be indebted to Jean Luc Ponty for changing me fundamentally. 19:30
One of the best composers of the jazz-fusion era. Here's my ranking : 1- Engmatic Ocean (an absolute masterpiece) 2- Imaginary Voyage 3- Cosmic Messenger 4- Aurora 5- Mystical Adventures 6- Upon the Wings of Music 7- Civilized Evil 8- Individual Choice 9- A Taste for Passion 10- Open Mind
I watched this album right after the 80s fusion video and remembered how much I love Ponty's 1987 album The Gift of Time. He starts using sequencers and playing most of the music himself with guests going forward after Mystical Adventures. There's a hole in what I've heard by Ponty from after Individual Choice to The Gift of Time but on that album it sounds like he's using a deliberately frigid minimalistic sound. But it's also extremely inviting and beautiful. It's one of my favorite albums of the 80s. My favorite Ponty albums overall though are the 3 with Alan Zavod. Usually it's the keyboardist that differentiates bands for me in terms of preference. The first time I heard the Imaginary Voyage suite, it blew my mind apart. Now that you mention it, next time I listen to these I will try and hear the themes in the titles... Also, Renaissance (from Aurora) has some great performances outside the studio album; The Rite of Strings with Stanley Clarke and Al Di Meola do it on their Live at Montreux album, and Return to Forever do it on their Mothership Returns album... both *excellent* performances.
Great video Andy! I love Jean Luc Ponty! After the second generation of Mahavishnu Orchestra, McLaughlin’s music become sporadic (Shatki, M Orchestra-variations, One Truth Band, etc) and sometimes inconsistent and hard to follow. I switched my focus to Ponty. As you mentioned the albums were amazing and his direction became more focused. The musicians he chooses for these albums were spectacular. On Enigmatic Ocean the two-guitar player idea was fantastic and the reason it worked was because Holdworth and Struermer are both virtuoso fusion guitarist and yet extremely different guitarist and musicians. And given Holdsworth popularity at that time it could only increase the sales of the album as well. Obviously Ponty enjoyed the two-guitar setup as he added two great guitarists to the Cosmic Messenger LP. I saw the Cosmic Messenger line up live in the US during that time period. It was truly one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. The concert began in complete darkness, then a spotlight on Ponty, he lifted his bow and when it struck the bow to the violin the band entered in perfect time and they were off and running. There was no pre-show instrument noodling (I hate pre-show instrument noodling)!! I read an interview article (probably in the 90s or early new millennium) where Ponty expressed his frustration about creating a new album. He explained the ridiculous expectations that the label had for him. He stated they required only so many tunes could have a band, other tunes had to be MIDI or solo tunes, and remaining tunes had to be pop music sounding. I felt so bad for him, being such a magnificent musician and composer to be treated in such a shoddy manner. Disgusting!! Sorry essay, ha ha! Jack from Canada
Thats very interesting. The first album I bought by him was Mystical Adventures, which was almost like a fusion take on Phillip Glass and minimalism. Stuck in the middle was a cover of 'As' by Stevie Wonder which I thought spoilt the album. I think you have explained why that was there now.
I’ve been anticipating this video since it was announced. I’ve been listening a lot of Ponty’s music and videos for a month now. I have followed him since his Zappa days. I have listened to his tone evolve into perfection. Loved his duet with Grappelli on their “Violin Summit.” I think the ‘old man’ still had the edge on him but I regress. Your assessment of Ponty’s output is spot on as well as where you place him in the echelon of fusion artists. He is a master of his instrument and as a composer. There is no one else like him. I know his break with McLaughlin carried some sour apples. Later he acknowledged that his time with MO2 allowed him great success as a solo artist and gave credit to that xperience. It would be sweet if they paired one more time.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Are you thinking of the live version of ‘Lotus Feet’? John’s playing is very discreet, using finger style rather than his trusty pick, which gives Jean-Luc and Zakir plenty of room to roam.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer You are right. I forgot about that one. It’s not a great performance overall. And they don’t seem quite comfortable, but yes, they did get together at least one other time.
I have a vague memory that back in the 1970's there was some "music video" for a Jean-Luc Ponty song which would show up on music shows which were late at night on the weekends. The video was just a high-resolution flyover of various locations, so it wasn't any kind of story or view of the band in concert. At the time I felt that the reason it worked well was because it was an active video for active music. Or to say it another way, it wasn't "static", and (as you say here), Jean-Luc's music feels like it is flying along.
It was a promo I think for his album 'Individual Choice' which I think came out in 1982. I remember here in the UK it was a mainstream TV music video show and I taped it. It was heavily influenced by the film Koyaanisqatsi which is a film and music masterpiece. I will be talking about it in a video soon entitled 'My 10 Favourite Classical Music Pieces' or something like that...
Oh yeah!!! Andy, you speak my language....grew up with fusion in the seventies by far the best period for jazz/rock!!! BTW do you know FOCUS? A trail blazing band...check out their Old Grey Whistle Test videos....with Jan Akkerman on guitar. They are still going...with a new sensation on guitar.... Menno Gootjes!!! If you don't know them you must check them out!!! Best. DAVE
Ponty really had a run of great albums in the seventies. The first one I heard back in 1986 was Cosmic Messenger and it is still my favourite. But as you said all theese records are equally fantastic.
The solo on fight for life is one of his best.(upon the wings of music ) . Also, when you've never heard any of the other albums yet because this was first, it makes the memory that much stronger . Generally agree with you though,it's hard to put any one over another. Good observations.
Aurora and Imaginary Voyage feature Tom Fowler from Zappa's Roxy lineup on bass guitar. That is enough for me to give a listen right now. Great video, thank you!
So true - his 70's albums are really great - I could also recommend his 1991 album Tchokola which explores African Rhythms and that album is Fantastic.
This is the one I've been waiting for!! IMHO nobody held it down as forcefully, adventurously, and consistently as Jean Luc. As a black man raised in Wash DC everyone who I knew liked any kind of jazz always ranked him at the top of their list. His visionary blend of rock, jazz, R&B, bluegrass and classical propelled him into the jazz-fusion stratosphere occupied only by him and Di Meola as a close second. His playing, his solos, his compositions were just powerful stuff and in concert, he was just as good. if I had to pinpoint what made his music so unique is that he kept the violin in a classical lane that made the music forcefully authentic as he would often traverse several musical genres in a single tune. His later output ( still worth exploring) only suffers from a comparison of what has come before, but there are still some great tunes ( Metropolis, Elephants in Love, Infinite Pursuit) I spent so many years driving at night jamming to Ponty's music, playing my air violin, which I plan to do for ole time's sake, right after writing this; long live the unimitable Jean Luc Ponty.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I have a feeling once you explore the rest of his catalog you may be motivated to become one. Revisiting his work last night I found myself surprised at his continued greatness, even in the years when he developed a softer sound he never lost that sense of daring expression. I hadn't listened to him in about 5 years or more, thank you for the inspiration and for jolting my renewed appreciation. Thanks. Andy. Fun Stuff. I patiently await your deep dive into one of the most underappreciated groups in jazz fusion, OREGON.
When I was first really getting into fusion I picked up a various Artists CD called Atlantic Jazz Fusion, the last, and for me best, track on the CD is Ponty's Egocentric Molecules, after hearing which I had to go out and snap up all the albums mentioned here, along with his live album ( like Di Meola's it should have been a double!) and a new one at the time, Live at Semper Opera, that helped make me realise that you dont always need guitar, which in turn opened the way for me to grab a goodly few Weather Reports. Love Ponty, he is without doubt one of my top 5 favourite fusion artists. I also rather enjoyed his playing with RTF iv and his collaboration with Jon Anderson.
Compilations are great for presenting various artists. Same happened to me with acid jazz compilations in the 90's (Gilles Peterson and Eddie Pillar). That's how I found out about Brand New Heavies, Incognito, Jamiroquai etc. and I've been hooked ever since.
His first album Jazz Long Playing was released in 1964. I have that box set and it’s a must. I also have The Jean Luc Ponty Experience with The George Duke Trio from 1969 so it’s easy to see how they both joined Zappa during the Fusion era.
Him and Duke seem to have a really close relationship, and you can hear violin on Duke's I Love The Blues album, but I don't recall them seriously working with each other after that...
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Between '86 and '90, I picked up 5 of his LPs. You covered 2 of them and one that you didn't was the one from 1969 with George Duke. It is early jazz-fusion in the period when fusion was finding it's feet and didn't really know what it was or where exactly it was going ~ some of its best days in my opinion ! But it's not really a great album. Another one that is not great, but which is interesting is a free jazz one he did in about 1971 called "Open Strings." It has Phillipe Catherine on guitar and Joachim Kuhn on piano and I find much of it rather meandering and irritating. But it does have one outrageously great piece on it, the opener "Flipping pt 1" which is built on a riff so beautiful and simple. The first album of his I heard was one he did with Stéphane Grappelli from about 1973. It came out a couple of years after and it was on Inner City records and as far as I could see, it never had a title, just "Jean-Luc Ponty and Stéphane Grappelli." But for me, it set the standard where Ponty is concerned. Nothing I've heard of his has ever grabbed me the way that album did, even though I love his stuff with the Mahavishnu Orchestra {his work on "Eternity's breath pts 1 & 2" is a total knockout} and the Mothers of Invention {that bootleg album "Piquantique" has my favourite violin solo ever on the last track} and his first 2 mid 70s solo albums. The songs with Grappelli are quite unique in that there are two lead violins and Phillipe Catherine does his thing too on guitar with some electric piano, bass and drums giving it it's sound. I would describe it as fusion, even though there are some sweet seemingly traditional moments on it. I've been in love with it since '86 and I did promise "till death us do part...." 😍 😁 I actually like some stuff {!!} he did with Stuff Smith too. But that's another story for another time.
I really loved "Mirage" and the whole Enigmatic Ocean album, especially the live performance at Montreux Jazz Festival in 1982 with Jamie Glaser on guitar, Rayford Griffin on drums... As we know, JLP had a classical background, as did many other composers and arrangers of that era. I kind of get the feeling that a classical background is not 'obligatory' nowadays, and is even perhaps believed to be elitist/unaffordable/boring/old fashioned. So you get many jazz and hip hop musicians who have not been down the classical route. Do you think this is a factor in how young musicians approach and compose jazz music today?
Thanks for making this video. I'm excited about your discovery and I'll get the box set today. My current favourite box set is Ian Carr & Nucleus - Torrid Zone. I give all of the six CD's in the set 10/10.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Three or four were released as albums but I'm not sure about the rest. These are Vertigo recordings 1970-75.Alan Hodsworth is on the third CD. Chris Spedding and Jocelyn Pitchen features on most of them. Karl Jenkins, Kenny Wheeler, Tony Levin and more, they're all on it. It's sublime.
Hi Andy. An incredible run of albums, for sure. I also rate the more recent ‘The Atacama Experience’ very highly. I saw him on tour shortly after its release in 2007 (Is it really fourteen-years ago?!). I would urge Ponty fans who haven’t heard it to seek it out. Holdsworth appears on one track (blinding solo on ‘Point of No Return’). There’s a definite sense of harkening back to the classic albums, but with a more up to date feel. It’s fantastic. Great start to a Saturday! Cheers.
At last Ponty. I have been turning people on to ponty for years and years. Back in 1995 when I was doing a music course in langly college, the teacher set an assignment to the class, "if you had 5 mins to live what would be the last song you would listen to"? The class was made up of Rockers Metalers and Modern electronic music like square pusher etc. Every one sat around listening to each others music. I was one of the last and I put on Renaissance and the reaction at the end left the class speachless and the silence went on for quite a while. One of the lecturer's at the college was a guy who played Jazz Fusion violin, and he made an album which had alot of airplay on Jazz FM back in the late 90s. His name is Marius Kahan and we have been the closest of friends ever since the mid 90s. You should try to find his album Tomorrow's Memories. Oh and have you checked out the Cesar Mariano & Cia São Paulo album yet? If not you really need to this is also a landmark Fusion album to. Great video Andy, Keep em coming.
This string of albums was certainly a purple patch for Ponty. After this he seemed to go off in many different directions and that might account for his lower profile than other big names in the genre. I would recommend his recording with DiMeola and Clarke 'The Rite Of Strings' as a worthwhile listen in addition to these classics. Also if there are any prog fans interested in dipping their toe into the water you might want to check out 'Better Late Than Never' by the Anderson Ponty Band ( with Jon Anderson ). They do a few Yes covers and you might find it a nice introduction to Pontys' body of work.
@@Alfred_Domke_antispace-sounds Yes there is a lot of good stuff on that album. There is also an album called 'D-Stringz' with a trio of Ponty, Clarke and Bireli Lagrene in a similiar veign thst is well worth a listen.
I’m a Jean luc super fan , probably seen 6 times . 3 times in the 70s . Your spot on those 4 Lps . After taste of passion I think his level dropped a bit .
Thanks Jean Luc show - a visa issue didn’t allow him to join Mahavishnu O original incarnation and history shows worked out quite well Saw his tour for Wings in a small club with a few mates maybe 15 there in total - chatted with us between sets Powerhouse and concur stretched McLaughlin as saw the MO band #2 many times and then JLuc with his bands - Keep the reviews coming!!
I've always found it interesting that John McLaughlin wanted Jean-Luc as his original violinist in the Orchestra. But a bit like how Jimmy page originally wanted BJ Wilson and Terry Reid but ended up with John Bonham and Robert Plant, I'd say it worked out better ! I love violinists in rock and jazz and I love Jean-Luc Ponty....but in fusion, I have to say that Jerry G has long been my no.1.
Oh man wish I could contribute to this one, I have been a JLP fan from day one. No question for me though, Enigmatic Ocean is the one, Jean and Allan were a match made in heaven, and the rest of the band are just smoking🎸🎼🤘🏻
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Absolutely 🤘🏻 I haven’t watched your show yet so here are my top 5 and it will be interesting to compare with your list: Enigmatic Ocean, Cosmic Messenger, Imaginary Voyage, King Kong and Aurora🌈 Cheers👍🏻
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer as a pre-teen I was always attracted to R&B instrumentals ( Isleys, Earth Wind and Fire, Norman Connors), it wasn't until my mid 20's a fellow employee played Cosmic Messenger, my gateway drug to the wonderful world of jazz fusion. Yep, Lee Ritenour was next for me too...lol
I loved UK and Bruford so back in the day I searched out albums Holdsworth was on and so I bought Enigmatic Ocean and then loads of others love JLP because of groove and the repetitive Raga vibe.
I totally agree with you, I recently read that JLP complaint for being ripped off by John Mclaughlin. The song Pegasus on „Visions of the emerold beyond“ was contributed by JLP but credited to JM. Well there is business behind the scenes…
I had several of Ponty's albums from the 70s that I bought in college. Jerry Goodman was really good, as well. Really nice tone. Ponty's 70s albums were fantastic. I agree that there is very little difference between them. I love the Dixie Dregs, but Ponty is far and away a better violinist than Allen Sloan. But the Dregs were amazing. Casey Sheuerell is a professor of percussion at Berklee School of Music, so you have something in common. I first recall Daryl Stuermer from his playing with Phil Collins.
Who the hell are you calling a plonker? Watch what I say in context, I hold up King Kong which is before Upon The Wings of Music, then say I'm going to look at his post Mahavishnu late seventies and then say 'his first album', rfereing to this run of seventies fusion albums. Perhaps I should have said 'his first album (in this box set) but I didn't. A slight error but not enough to call me a plonker. A plonker is someone who writes a comment like this, especially in capitals. Stupid comment
