M1 “Idiot Bastard Son”, King Kong Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa, (Frank Zappa) World Pacific Jazz Records, 1970 (4:00).

M2 “Twenty Small Cigars”, King Kong Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa, (Frank Zappa) World Pacific Jazz Records, 1970 (5:35).

M3 “Bowing-Bowing”, Jean Luc Ponty-Stephane Grappelli (Jean-Luc Ponty), Inner City Records, 1976, recorded 1973, (6:28)

M4 “Valerie”, Jean-Luc Ponty-Stephane Grappelli (Jean-Luc Ponty), Inner City Records, 1976 (7:00)

M5 “Upon The Wings Of Music”, Upon The Wings of Music, (Jean-Luc Ponty), Atlantic Recording/Warner Communications, (5:24).

M6 “Now I Know”, Upon The Wings of Music, (Jean-Luc Ponty), Atlantic Recording/Warner Communications, (4:25)

WELCOME TO THIS EPISODE OF VINYL VIBRATIONS – musical exploration into sounds and grooves from artists whose works are produced onto vinyl records. The Vinyl Record has stood the test of time- – Vinyl is durable and delivers stunning sound. With Vinyl Records, we capture a rich period in music history including pop, rock, jazz, and classical genres. In each show I explore a topic in the artist’s music that makes their work unique and timeless. From these podcasts, the actual vinyl LPs played in this show go back to the 1950s – I am enjoying these discs some 70+ years after their production date. Tangible music, always available great quality. … I’m your host, Brian Frederick. WELCOME to this episode of Vinyl … Vibrations.

ABOUT TODAY’S PROGRAM

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Today our featured artist is Jean-Luc Ponty – He is a French JAZZ-ROCK and JAZZ FUSION violinist and composer, born in 1942. Ponty graduated from Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris with the PREMIER PRIX the first prize, a great accomplishment. Then he was hired by Orchestra Lamoureux. He also had a side job playing in a college jazz band and he evolved and developed a jazz interest. In his 20’s, Ponty went on to play at jazz clubs in Paris as the “JAZZ FIDDLE” role. Ponty was at the right time and the right place. In 1965, the VIOLIN did not have a place in the jazz world or in the jazz sound. Ponty has a unique sound, and he has made a huge impact in JAZZ-ROCK and in JAZZ FUSION. (pause)

One characteristic of Ponty’s style is his spared use of vibrato. His style favors powerful long notes, with just a trace of vibrato.. Another characteristic is that he plays the electric violin, and thirdly, he uses effects processing. He is truly a modern and pioneering violinist with his jazz and fusion roots starting in the 1960s.

In the1970’s he collaborated as sideman with FRANK ZAPPA- and with CHICK COREA- and with the MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA- resulting in 18 sideman records between those three groups. Before that PONTY had many recording accomplishments – with 8 recordings as LEADER going back to 1964 when he released his premier record [JAZZ LONG PLAYING] In 1967 he played at the MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL, and this landed him a recording contract with the WORLD PACIFIC label. In 1970, he was working with Frank Zappa on the KING KONG album, and working with Elton John on the HONKY CHATEAU album.

I was lucky and thrilled to see PONTY live in 1972 at the BROWN SHOE, a bar in the Chicago Old Town neighborhood. He played an electric violin, and had floor pedals with basic effects, and played a mind-boggling 45-minute set of ROCK FUSION music. That was during his MAHAVISHNU-ZAPPA-COREA days. I had my proof, he was the real thing.

And now, let’s go into the music of Jean Luc Ponty.

In today’s podcast I review three records of Jean Luc Ponty AS LEADER, his early years, 1970 to 1975.

King Kong Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa 1970
Jean-Luc Ponty-Stephane Grappelli 1973
Upon The Wings of Music 1975