Record Reviews

JEAN-LUC PONTY ~ THE ATACAMA EXPERIENCE MPS 4029759187356 (Barcode: 4029759187356) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2025 This is a reissue / remaster of an album by French Jazz violinist / composer / bandleader Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist, recorded in quintet setting with keyboardist William LecomteFind albums by this artist, Cameroonian bassist Guy Nsangue AkwaFind albums by this artist, drummer Thierry ArpinoFind albums by this artist and Senegalese percussionist Taffa CisseFind albums by this artist. British guitarist Allan HoldsworthFind albums by this artist guests on one track and Belgian guitarist Philip CatherineFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks. The album presents fourteen tracks, all but two composed by Ponty, one composed by Lecomte and finally one is a standard by Bud PowellFind albums by this artist. This is so far the last solo album recorded by Ponty. The music is absolutely brilliant, full of vigor and brilliant performances by Ponty and all the participants. As in most of his late albums, there is a strong World Music influence emphasized by African drummers, but this album is a glorious return to Ponty’s best years in the 1970s and 1980s, including highly lyrical and typical French Jazz violin parts as well. Both guitarists add superb soloing as well. Overall, this is a brilliant album, which mostly passed unnoticed when originally released, and now is a great opportunity to fill the gap. It spans stylistically the Fusion, World and pure Jazz periods, being a summary of sorts of this great Musician’s career, and if someone misses it in their collection, repent now, as this is pure Gold!

Updated: 16/07/2025Posted: 16/07/2025

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