Jean-Luc Ponty in Concert

Starring:Jean-Luc Ponty, William Lecomte, Guy Nsangue
Studio: Jlp Productions
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The fingers (not to mention the hands they're attached to) are flying as the music of violinist and fusion pioneer Jean-Luc Ponty gets a first-class treatment on Jean-Luc Ponty in Concert, a 70-minute performance recorded in Warsaw in 1999. There's absolutely no doubt that the French musician can play (it's not for nothing that he once toured and recorded with both Frank Zappa and John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, among many others), and his bandmates, especially electric bassist Guy Nsangue Akwa, are excellent as well. But while the music is undeniably impressive (and beautifully recorded), with its demanding rhythms and time signatures and angular, contrapuntal melodies, there just isn't much there there, so to speak; it lacks the compositional brilliance of both Pat Metheny and Weather Report, two giants of the genre whose music Ponty occasionally evokes. Ponty and band do get their groove on, and their quieter moments ("Pastoral Harmony"--lame title, nice tune) easily eclipse pretty much anything in the smooth jazz category. Add to that some fine bonus features (including "Touring Memories," an interesting collection of video from the group's travels in Europe and Asia, as well as a very detailed biography and discography section), and you've got a nice package that nevertheless falls well short of indispensable. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

Awsome.......2005-04-13

This is one of the best dvds ive seen.menue is amazing and the performance is incredible.Very well put together by a master musician in ponty.Sound and picture are stunning as well in dolby5.1

The genius of JLP with a fair band performance........2005-02-10

I'm a huge JLP fan since I was 15, when I first met his music with the LIVE album now released on CD. I gave the DVD 3 stars cause the show at that live album and of many more live albuns and presentations here in Brazil are far better than this one.
There was so fantastic presentations with great drums, guitar, keyboard and bass musicians with amazing solos that the show at this DVD just look like a free sample of that anthologic ones. He performs just fine like he always do, but just listen to the Ralph Armstrong's bass solos, the Ray Griffin's drums solos and the Scott Hendersons guitar solos and you will find the real JLP deal. I'm still expecting a great JLP (band) live presentation on DVD besides this one is very good.

Outstanding Musicianship!!!! Must see!!!!.......2004-12-13

I've always been a fan of Jean Luc Ponty. What he is able to do on the violin is extra-ordinary! He is a creative musical force which blends sounds and chords together that typically are not supposed to work. He not only makes them work, but he moves you deeply throughout! Every time I play this concert for ANY of my friends, they are Instant Jean Luc Ponty fans. This DVD is like one big "eargasm." A must have! Sound and video quality is great! The band is tight and magnificent! You will definately get your monies worth and then some. If you are a first timer, be advised, you will be hooked on this guy and his music forevermore. You have been warned.
Enjoy!

Nice Concert.......2004-11-10

It's good to see JL Ponty performing live with his zen-like patience and strength. I still remember his 1988 concert in Santiago, CHILE (South America). Ponty and his new mates are great, making a real group, good sounding and musicianship . Only JL Ponty is a bit out of tune in the first track or maybe it's a technical problem, but it easily overpassed.
I should have included complete tracks from the Touring Memories files, specially from the concerts in Lebanon.

Way Overdue.......2004-09-30

This concert was fantastic. About the closest we got to a live recording was that "Live at Chene Park" CD and the performance on that was horrible. Mainly due to the drummer Chris Barsimanto and his inability to keep up with the rest of the band. This concert, however, is Jean Luc Ponty at his best!!! The song selection is really good and the execution of each song was flawless!!! I highly recommend this DVD Concert.

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