Name: The Very Best of Jean-Luc Ponty
Brand: Unbranded
SKU: 358135
Price: 45.45 USD
Availability: InStock

Tracks

1. No Track Listing Available

Performer Notes

Personnel: Jean-Luc Ponty (violin, violectra, autoharp, electric piano, organ, keyboards, synthesizer); Alan Zavod (piano, organ, Clavinet, keyboards, synthesizer); Patrice Rushen (piano, organ, Clavinet, synthesizer); Chris Rhyne (piano, synthesizer); Peter Maunu, Joaquin Lievano (synthesizer, guitar); Dan Sawyer, Daryl Stuermer, Allan Holdsworth, Jamie Glaser, Scott Henderson (guitar); Ralphe Armstrong, Tom Fowler, Randy Jackson, Baron Browne (bass); Ndugu Leon Chancler, Norman Fearrington, Mark Craney, Steve Smith, Casey Scheuerell, Rayford Griffin (drums, percussion); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).
Recorded between 1975 and 1985. Includes liner notes by Rick Clark.
Digitally remastered by Geoff Sykes and Bill Inglot.
Personnel: Jean-Luc Ponty (autoharp, violin, electric piano, organ, keyboards, synthesizer, bass synthesizer, keyboard bass, electronic percussion, sequencer); Allan Zavod (guitar, piano, Clavinet, organ, keyboards, synthesizer); Joaquin Lievano, Peter Maunu (guitar, guitar synthesizer); Daryl Stuermer, Dan Sawyer, Allan Holdsworth, Scott Henderson , Jamie Glaser (guitar); Patrice Rushen (piano, Clavinet, clavichord, organ, synthesizer); Chris Rhyne (piano, synthesizer, bass synthesizer); Norman Fearrington, Casey Schelierell, Mark Craney, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, Rayford Griffin, Steve Smith (drums, percussion); Ray Griffin (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).
Audio Remasterers: Geoff Sykes; Bill Inglot.
Recording information: Bill Schnee Studio (01/1975-08/1985); Chateau Recorders (01/1975-08/1985); Cherokee Recording (01/1975-08/1985); Kendun Recording (01/1975-08/1985); La Tour D'Ivoire (01/1975-08/1985); La Tour D'Ivoire, Los Angeles, CA (01/1975-08/1985); Music Grinder (01/1975-08/1985); Ocean Way Recording (01/1975-08/1985); Paramount Recording (01/1975-08/1985); Santa Barbara, CA (01/1975-08/1985); The Music Grinder, Hollywood, CA (01/1975-08/1985); The Village Recorders, West Los Angeles, CA (01/1975-08/1985); Village Recorders, Los Angeles, CA (01/1975-08/1985).
Photographer: Jak Kilby.
This 2000 release should have been titled The Very Best of Jean-Luc Ponty's Atlantic Years because it contains some of the best recordings that he made during his stay at Atlantic from 1975-1985. The CD doesn't get into Ponty's pre-Atlantic work, some of which is essentially straight-ahead jazz; nor does it get into his Columbia or Epic output of the late '80s and early '90s. Although Ponty's pre-Atlantic and post-Atlantic recordings are noteworthy, it was during his stay at Atlantic that the French violinist did his most important, innovative, and essential work. The Very Best of Jean-Luc Ponty doesn't take as comprehensive a look at his Atlantic years as Rhino's two-CD set, Le Voyage: The Jean-Luc Ponty Anthology -- this collection is more concise, making it the most logical choice if you're exploring his music for the first time. To its credit, Rhino presents the material in chronological order; so one hears how much Ponty evolved during his Atlantic years. While gems from '70s albums like Upon the Wings of Music, Aurora, Voyage, and Enigmatic Ocean are characterized by their spontaneity and their improvisatory spirit, tracks from 1983's Individual Choice and 1985's Fables are more high-tech and heavily produced. Ordinarily, it's disappointing to see a great improviser offering less improvisation, but the composing on those albums is so strong that you're inclined to be forgiving. From a compositional standpoint, high-tech '80s pieces like "Infinite Pursuit" and Individual Choice's title track are excellent -- even if they lack the spontaneity of Ponty's '70s treasures. All of Ponty's Atlantic albums are worth hearing, and some of them are truly essential. But for beginners, The Very Best of Jean-Luc Ponty would be the best starting point. ~ Alex Henderson

Album: The Very Best of Jean-Luc Ponty
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Bowing-Bowing
2)	Aurora, Pt. 2
3)	Renaissance
4)	New Country
5)	Enigmatic Ocean, Pt. 3
6)	Mirage
7)	Egocentric Molecules
8)	Cosmic Messenger
9)	I Only Feel Good With You
10)	No Strings Attached
11)	Taste for Passion, A
12)	Forms of Life
13)	Rhythms of Hope
14)	Final Truth, Pt. 1
15)	Individual Choice
16)	Infinite Pursuit

Album: The Very Best of Jean-Luc Ponty
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Bowing-Bowing
2)	Aurora, Pt. 2
3)	Renaissance
4)	New Country
5)	Enigmatic Ocean, Pt. 3
6)	Mirage
7)	Egocentric Molecules
8)	Cosmic Messenger
9)	I Only Feel Good With You
10)	No Strings Attached
11)	Taste for Passion, A
12)	Forms of Life
13)	Rhythms of Hope
14)	Final Truth, Pt. 1
15)	Individual Choice
16)	Infinite Pursuit