Ponty, Jean-Luc - Life Enigma


Year of Release: 2001
Label: JLP Productions
Catalog Number: 001
Format: CD
Total Time: 54:52:00

It's hard to believe that this is Jean Luc Ponty's first album in seven years. I was introduced to Ponty's music in the early eighties while I was making my way around the world with the U.S. Navy. The Civilized Evil album was an eye-opener and an exciting doorway into the world of jazz-fusion for me. I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Ponty perform live at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco several years later. It was a dream come true, and an exceptional experience that I will never forget.

Receiving Life Enigma for review is an honor. After listening to this man's music for twenty years I finally have the opportunity to let everyone know how I feel about it, what a privilege that is. When I think of progressive violin players there are only two names that come to mind, Ponty and Grapelli.

The seventies and eighties were very productive for Ponty and he decided to draw from that experience and incorporate all of the immense knowledge he has acquired. The artist points to that developmental stage of his career as a critical turning point, and reaching back into that time frame was an inspiration to create this music. Utilizing computers, synthesizers, world music, and percussion, this long awaited release is some of his best work to date. You will easily feel, hear, and process all of the rich colorful textures represented by Ponty's beautiful violin playing on every track.

The title of this CD is about the mysteries of life, I know for certain that there is no mystery in the way Jean Luc Ponty presents his deep understanding of music and how it relates to the human soul. The infinite human caravan begs the question "Why can't we let the music be our spiritual guide?" In the end the answers lie within us all and the music tells us that we are the enigma, not life itself.


Tracklisting:
Two Thousand-One Years Ago (4:20) / Signals From Planet Earth (6:03) / The Infinite Human Caravan (6:37) / Lonely Among All (4:25) / Firmament (7:22) / Pizzy Cat (3:16) / Life Enigma (5:56) / Even The Sun Will Die (5:37) / Love At Last Sight (5:15) / And Life Goes On (6:01)

Musicians:
Jean Luc Ponty - violin, keyboards, percussion
Guy Nsangue Akwa - bass
William Lecomte - keyboard
Moustapha Cisse - percussion
Thierry Arpino - drums

Discography:
Jazz Long Playing (1964)
Sunday Walk (oop) (1967)
More Than Meets The Ear (1968)
The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience (1969)
Electric Connection (1969)
Live At Dontes (1969)
Open Strings (1971)
Aria (1972)
Stephane Grappelli & Jean-Luc Ponty (1973)
Upon The Wings Of Music (1975)
Imaginary Voyage (1976)
Aurora (1976)
Enigmatic Ocean (1977)
Cosmic Messenger (1978)
Jean Luc Ponty Live (1979)
A Taste For Passion (1979)
Civilized Evil (1980)
Mystical Adventures (1982)
Individual Choice (1983)
Open Mind (1984)
Fables (1985)
Gift Of Time (1987)
Storytelling (1989)
Tchokola (1991)
Puss In Boots (soundtrack) (1991)
No Absolute Time (1993)
Le Voyage (1996)
Live At Chene Park (1997)
The Very Best Of... (2000)
Life Enigma (2001)
The Very Best of Jean-Luc Ponty (2002)
Live At Semper Opera (2002)
The Atacama Experience (2007)

In Concert (DVD) (2003)

Genre: Fusion-Jazz Fusion

Origin FR

Added: December 21st 2001
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck

Artist website: www.ponty.com
Hits: 1960
Language: english

  

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