Jean-Luc Ponty ~ France ~ USA

Imaginary Voyage (1976)

I first heard this album via LP some six plus years ago (and probably before that, not sure I ever owned it though). But I didn't get any notes down on my listening experience. I did sell it, only to find this CD in the quarter bin recently. Let's see if I want to hold onto it this time.

Ponty's second album for 1976 sees him diversifying his sound a bit. Though the hoedown opener may have been too much at once lol. The next three tracks sort of blow by without notice. A5 starts to light things up with some fiery guitar from Daryl Stuermer (him again). The interest in Imaginary Voyage boils down to the 20 minute title suite on Side 2. It's definitely the most ambitious piece on the album, and brings in some progressive jazz fusion tendencies. The music, however, does lack the fire of those that surround it. Had this been an earlier fusion discovery for me, I would certainly hold onto it. I can let it go now though. It's easy to find if I ever change my mind again.

Source: 1990 Atlantic (CD)

1/3/20; 4/27/26 (review)
 

Aurora (1976)

Unlike most of Ponty's classic fusion albums, I've never heard Aurora, one of his landmark works. Just one of those quirks of life I guess. It wasn't that long ago I featured an obscure fusion band from my original hometown of Dallas named Aurora, no doubt influenced by this album. In any case, as noted below, I recently acquired Cosmic Messenger on CD, and this album is included with it.

As usual, Ponty surrounds himself with top talent including the lovely Patrice Rushen on keyboards. Always-around-somewhere guitarist Daryl Stuermer provides some pretty mean licks. Ponty's heavily affected violin is smooth as glass. Overall not as intense as Cosmic Messenger, but there are plenty of fire moments here too, including the lengthy two part title track. The album closes with two mellow numbers leaving it with the overall impression it's a light album, but that's not really the case.

See Cosmic Messenger for Ownership details.

12/22/25 (review)

 

Cosmic Messenger (1978)

---8/2/21

I love the way that Ponty layers all the instruments, and there's some really fine rhythms, tying to my new favorite genre of jazz funk. Excellent solos as well, rarely showboaty, always measured.

---12/16/25

That was the journal entry from only a few years ago, and my second listen. Though I was certain to have heard this album in the 80s or 90s, I had no record - or recollection - of it. I consider the 2020 listen as my introduction, after acquiring it at an estate sale a few months prior. I unintentionally made it sound like a solo album, but it's a full band effort with four to six musicians performing on each track. Some great synthesizer and guitar work from the guests add a lot of color and energy to this fine work. Naturally his violin remains the feature. Ponty was a major force in the fusion field at this time, and his albums go toe to toe with the best of them. I find albums like this very easy to listen to, and provides a nice break from more complex efforts.

Ownership: 2022 Wounded Bird (CD). With Aurora. Booklet has recording details only. Acquired in 2025.

1/5/20; 8/2/21 (notes); 12/16/25 (review)

Individual Choice (1983)

Individual Choice is a very interesting album from Ponty, favoring the synthesizer over his trademark violin. In this way, he seems to be following Richard Pinhas' approach more than his own fusion based efforts. His sound choices are mostly monolithic while heavy on the sequencer. Though more positive in tone, one could make comparisons to Chronolyse, especially when there's bass and drums present. The melodies are well written and provide a nice contrast to the normally cold electronic genre. Always fun to hear future American Idol star Randy Jackson on the bass. He certainly earned his way to being a judge, as he was a very busy session player in the 80s. Only the finale 'In Spite Of All' demonstrates Ponty's fusion tendencies. I'd owned this album many years ago, but dismissed it as ordinary fusion. I missed the boat. Wrong genre and wrong mindset.

Ownership: 1983 Atlantic (LP). Reacquired in 2023. First acquired in 1993.

1993; 4/18/23 (review)

Also own: Enigmatic Ocean

Once owned and need to revisit: & Stephane Grappelli; King Kong; With the George Duke Trio; Civilized Evil; Mystical Adventures

4/18/23 (new entry)