Jean-Luc Ponty | The Acatama Experience

Tags

Jean-Luc Ponty, Violin, World Fusion

Jean-Luc Ponty | The Acatama Experience – [Koch Records, 2007]

Jean-Luc Ponty, The Acatama Experience

This is a very pleasant album! It’s a bit of a departure for Jean-Luc, in that it is much more of a straightforward free-form jazz album than any of his previous works. And, he did it in fine style! His performances on this album are excellent, as usual. And his personality (which has made most of his work shine in the past) is very clear and present in this work. It was nice to hear his old friend, British guitarist Allan Holdsworth perform with him again for the first time in over 20 years.

Even though Holdsworth only played on one song in this work, his original sound, touch and talent rang true in his performance. One pleasant surprise on this album was the inclusion of jazz guitar legend Phillip Catherine on 2 or 3 songs. I don’t think Catherine has ever played for Jean-Luc before. But, his cool, smooth electric guitar work added a saucy jazz flavor to the album. It was great to hear! Some of the songs could have been longer. The solos could have been a bit more extended.

But overall, this album is a refreshing and tasty release that is a necessary addition to anyone’s collection if you are a Jean-Luc Ponty fan! It is not a classic on the status of “Cosmic Messenger” or even the inventive “Individual Choice“….but believe me! This is an album you will enjoy very much! —D. Gorman

Source: Amazon.com

David Binney | Aliso

Tags

David Binney, Jazz, Saxophone

David Binney | Aliso – [Criss Cross – 2010]

David Binney - Aliso

For his fourth Criss Cross leader date, alto saxophonist-composer David Binney convenes his primary New York working quartet of the 2000s (pianist Jacob Sacks, bassist Eivind Opsvik, and drummer Dan Weiss), adds to the mix guitar hero Wayne Krantz, with whom he works frequently in an electronica-oriented group, and augments the proceedings with several appearances by British pianist-composer John Escreet, a frequent partner in recent years.

The leader plays with deep emotion and the concision of an old master; it’s as strong a date as any in Binney’s now sizable discography.

Release Date: 2/16/2010

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::..