Search - Jean-Luc Ponty :: Live at Chene Park

Bridget S. (Vassar) from PLYMOUTH, IN
Reviewed on 3/17/2009...

Another great cd from Ponty. This is also a great first cd for first-time Ponty listeners.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Incredible playmanship, skill, cohesiveness

Pork Chop | Lisbon, Portugal | 03/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you've listened to perhaps 30 of JLP's works,

most live in studio, you know how unique and

special those compositions can be...although they

always bring the violin to the fore-front.



On this CD, which I held off buying for a long

time, you can hear live performances of many

of JLP's numbers, spanning perhaps 10 years, from

the 1980's to the 90's. The band's playmanship

and cohesiveness is very impressive, as is the skill

in JLP in hitting the right notes, and keeping the

concept of each song faithful from start to end. The

delivery overall, band, numbers, JLP's skill, music

instruments and sound...and live interpretations....

really makes this a fantastic, must-have CD, if you

have heard at least 5 or more of JLP's more essential

CD's. This is even better than the Rite of Strings,

in some aspects, that also was recorded live, although

strong too. Much, much better than Life Enigma, which

dates from some years after this recording."

Tight, clean and energetic. Technical ecstacy at its best.

robfox | 10/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It has taken me a few listenings to distinguish all the songs on this release. Every one is good and the band is excellent. The sound quality is exceptional. I saw Ponty ten years ago on the 'Storytelling' tour and was suprised to hear Ponty's long-time associate, Jamie Glaser, sound like a rock guitar hero. Not that I mind such things, but it did not quite fit in with the tastiness of the rest of the performance. Fortunately, he is more disciplined here and sounding better than ever. Baron Browne's bass playing is a continous thunder which always holds the fort while Michael Barsimanto's drumming is rock solid. For those of you unfamiliar with Ponty, this is fusion, not straight, jazz. The keys of Chris Rhyne are as smooth and tight as can be, often supporting Ponty and Glaser, but worth listening to in their own right. Ponty's own playing is perfection itself. I am always astounded by his use of sequencers and delays. Some criticize him for his techinicality, calling it cold, but I find it energizing and uplifting. I have been a Ponty fan for 20 years now and am gratified his music is as strong as ever."