Jean-Luc Ponty

Jean-Luc Ponty (born the September 29th 1942, Avranches -) is a Violoniste and Compositeur of Jazz French.

Biography

First price of violin (traditional) to the Conservatory National Higher of Music of Paris, its attraction for the Jazz is due to the musics of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He denies any influence of Stephan Grappelli, which he however appreciated much. He is one of the very rare French musicians to have known a true international reputation, initially via his collaborations with Frank Zappa and John McLaughlin, then from 75, inventing a very personal, made career his traditional field crop, of his will to popularize his fields of expression finally of his taste for the experiments and the interbreedings stylistics which were worth here - in its fatherland of origin - many scoffers to him, even, or especially, among the ex and more enthusiastic admirors of this " Coltrane of the violon" that they had initially seen in him.

Violonist purely bebop at his beginnings on the scene jazz, in front of the difficulty in surviving in the little of space and recognition which its career " offered to him; first version" , it yielded to the American sirens which were for him, George Duke and Frank Zappa, deviating then towards a more popular music, the rock'n'roll, loser thus good number of these " puristes" having taken pleasure to see it playing in the Parisian clubs, the such " Caméléon" , at the time of the Sixties. However, its electronic experiments were crowned success, the artist obtaining the recognition of a larger audience, as a proof the concerts of the Mahavishnu Orchestra with the Jazz festival of Montreux, profiting soon from enough of will have to form its own groups, leader in his turn some instrumentalists of great talent, Patrice Rushen, Allan Zavod, Allan Holdsworth, Leon Chancler…

In addition to a virtuosity époustouflante, also equipped with a real talent of type-setter and melodist, Jean Luc Ponty was also an ambitious experimenter, among the first to combine the violin with the MIDDAY, also effects of distortions and with the pedals Wah-wah. Immediately identifiable, its sounds, attacks and phrased are true signatures, also obtaining the width of a synthetizer on the only cords of its violins.

It modified those and thus used a electric Violon with 5 cords, equipped with a low cord granted in C. It used also sometimes a Violectra, initially with four cords then with six with the low ones in C and F. The violin " Zeta" thus the old men " replaced; barcus berry" with which JLP had been one of the inventors of the Jazz-rock'n'roll, these having already replaced their eternal acoustic ancestors between the fingers of this atypical virtuoso.

Discography bebop

  • 1964 : long Jazz playing
  • 1966: Violin summit , with Stuff Smith, Stephan Grappelli and Svend Asmussen
  • 1966: " Trio HLP " (Humair, Louis, Ponty) (Dreyfus jazz)

Discography Jazz-Rock'n'roll

  • 2007 : The Acatama Experiment
  • 2004: Jean-Luc Ponty In Concert (Live)
  • 2002: Live At Semper Operated (Live)
  • 2001: Life Enigma
  • 1996 : Live At Oak Park (Live)
  • 1992: No Absolute Time
  • 1991: Tchokola
  • 1989 : Storytelling
  • 1987 : The Gift Off Time
  • 1985: Fables
  • 1984: Open Mind
  • 1983: Individual Choice
  • 1981 : Mystical Adventures
  • 1980 : Civilized Evil
  • 1979 : Jean-Luc Ponty: Live (Live, recorded in California in 1978)
  • 1979: has Taste For Passion
  • 1978: Cosmic Messenger
  • 1977 : Enigmatic Ocean
  • 1976: Imaginary Travels
  • 1975: Aurora
  • 1975 : Upon The Wings Off Music
  • 1973: Jean Luc Ponty And Stephan Grappelli
  • 1972: Live At Montreux 72 (Live)
  • 1969: Live At Dontes (Live)
  • 1969: Electric Connection
  • 1969: King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays The Music Off Frank Zappa
  • 1969: More Than Meets The Ear
  • 1969: Canteloupe Island

Discography: collaborations

External bonds

  • Official site
  • Interview in English
  • File with biography, official discography, testimonys

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