For Y'all Jean-Luc Ponty - 1983 Private Choice

Individual Choice is an album past times French jazz fusion violinist Jean-Luc Ponty that was released inwards 1983. Here is Ponty's radical pause amongst his past, ane that farther tightened his command over his arts and crafts piece ironically liberating his muse. In laying out his attractive novel music on synthesizers in addition to sequencers, emphasizing revolving ostinato patterns, Ponty rejuvenated his melodic gift, in addition to equally a result, fifty-fifty inwards this controlled setting, his violin solos own got on a novel freshness in addition to exuberance. Except for ii tracks, Ponty does without a formal beat department -- in addition to on ii other tracks, he goes it completely alone. Indeed, he does best of all when he has no ane but himself to play amongst on "Computer Incantations for World Peace" in addition to the lovely mood slice "Eulogy to Oscar Romero." Guest interloper George Duke (a swain refugee from Frank Zappa's band) contributes a Minimoog solo to ""In Spiritual Love," where Ponty provides his ain percussive backing on beat computer. Even if ane grumbles on regulation nigh the reduction of spontaneity inwards Ponty's music over the Atlantic years, the musical terminate hither absolutely justifies the means. Don't missy it.

Recorded inwards 1983 inwards Los Angeles, this is JLP's kickoff recording where he plays all the violin, synthesizer in addition to beat figurer parts, using ane of the really kickoff sequencers, except for ane slice which was recorded amongst Allan Holdsworth (guitars) Randy Jackson (bass) in addition to Rayford Griffin (drums). George Duke (synthesizer) in addition to Allan Holdsworth equally good contribute their solos to ii other pieces. The championship rail was used for a revolutionary promotional video made of fourth dimension lapse photography past times Louis Schwartzberg.

On 1983’s Individual Choice, Ponty begins to abandon the drum-keys-bass-guitar-violin formula that he’s used since Upon The Wings Of Music inwards favor of experimenting amongst differing configurations to jibe the compositions. The consequence is an album that creates to a greater extent than mood than sponteniety, a form of hybrid betwixt fusion in addition to novel age.

And piece I’m non a big novel historic menstruation guy, Ponty manages to add together simply plenty improvision, clever arrangements in addition to compositional skills to popular off on me interested. The consequence is an album that isn’t quite equally consistent equally Mystical Adventures; however, the peaks accomplish greater heights, because to a greater extent than oft than not, the opportunity taking pays off.

The opener is likely the most New Age-ish of the whole album. But the sequencer excercise “Computer Incantations for World Peace” gets rescued past times Ponty’s 5 string violin inwards the minute one-half of the song.

Following is the kickoff appearance of the beat department in addition to Rayford Griffin is a major strength on the drums. That in addition to a killer chord sequence inwards the caput brand “Far from the Beaten Paths” ane of Ponty’s best rockers of all time.

Following is Ponty (mostly) solo again, where on “In Spiritual Love” Ponty programs all the synths in addition to percussion, equally good equally violin, both plucked in addition to bowed. But the improver of a masterful mini Moog solo past times quondam cohort George Duke–who recorded his usage remotely inwards his ain studio–gives the whole vocal a boot inwards the pants.

The flip side of Individual Choice begins amongst a brief synthesized mournful tribute to murdered Salvadoran
archbishop Oscar Romero. The side past times side rail “Nostalgia”, similar “In Spiritual Love”, is Ponty ane time again providing an ideal setup for his invitee soloist; an affecting melodic delineate of piece of employment provides the perfect mood for guitarist Allan Holdsworth’s weeping, legato lines.

The championship vocal that follows is Ponty doing all the operate again. However, amongst no foil this fourth dimension around, it isn’t quite equally interesting. Finally, the amount band appears ane time again for only the minute fourth dimension on the closer “In Spite Of All”, highlighted past times Ponty trading fours amongst Holdsworth. Indeed, I wouldn’t own got minded at all if Holdsworth had appeared on every track.

Nowadays, Jean-Luc Ponty is soundless performing in addition to subsequently a long lay over, is lastly recording records again. I sometimes wonder what has happened to to a greater extent than or less of the other musicians on these ii records discussed here, equally they were all quite talented. But subsequently hearing null nigh him for many years, I know straightaway what the bass role participant is upward to.

If you lot desire to know what he’s doing these days, simply melody into American Idol tonight. He’ll live sitting on Paula’s right.

/search?q=jean+luc+ponty

Track listing:

All songs past times Jean-Luc Ponty.

1 "Computer Incantations for World Peace" – 5:41
2 "Far from the Beaten Paths" – 5:59
three "In Spiritual Love" – 7:01
4 "Eulogy to Oscar Romero" – 2:32
5 "Nostalgia" – 5:02
half dozen "Individual Choice" – 4:56
seven "In Spite of All" – 5:55

Personnel:

Jean-Luc Ponty – violin, organ, synthesizer, keyboards, vocals, keyboard bass, beat programming
Allan Holdsworth – guitar
Rayford Griffin – drums, percussion
Randy Jackson – bass
George Duke – synthesizer, Mini-moog