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Jean-Luc Ponty

Jean-Luc Ponty (born September 29, 1942) is a versatile French violinist and jazz composer.

Born in Avranches, France, he was trained as a professional classical violinist at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. His attraction to jazz was propelled by Miles Davis' and John Coltrane's music.

He has worked with Stephane Grappelli, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Frank Zappa, and has appeared on over seventy recordings.

In 1977 he pioneered the use of the 5-string electric violin, with a lower C string. He sometimes also uses a 6-string electric violin called the Violectra , with low C and F strings – not to be confused with the violectra he played from the late 1960s to the mid-80s which had 4 strings, but tuned an octave lower. Ponty was among the first to combine the violin with midi, distortion boxes, phase shifters, and wah-wah pedals. This resulted in his signature, almost synthesizer-like sound.

Selected discography

Jazz long playing 1964
violin summit 1966
sunday walk 1967
cantaloupe island 1967
jean-luc Ponty expierience 1969
Upon the Wings of Music, 1975
Aurora, 1976
Imaginary Voyage, 1976
Enigmatic Ocean, 1977
Cosmic Messenger, 1978
A Taste for Passion, 1979
Civilised Evil, 1980
Mystical Adventures, 1982
Individual Choice, 1983
Open Mind, 1984
Fables, 1985
The Gift of Time, 1987
Storytelling, 1989
Tchokola, 1991
No Absolute Time, 1993
Le Voyage, 1996
Live at Chene Park, 1997
The Very Best of Jean-Luc Ponty, 2000
Life Enigma, 2001
The Best of Jean-Luc Ponty, 2002
Live at Semper Opera, 2002
In Concert, 2003 (CD and DVD versions)

External link



07-14-2008 23:18:10
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