Visions of the Emerald Beyond is an album by the Mahavishnu Orchestra, released in 1975 on Columbia. The album is the fourth chronological studio release under the Mahavishnu nameplate and the second to feature the mark II lineup with violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and drummer Narada Michael Walden. Tracklist: A1. “Eternity’s Breath Part 1” (3:10) A2. […]
Hot Rats is an album by American jazz-rock musician/composer Frank Zappa, released in 1969 on Bizarre/Reprise. Tracklist: A1. “Peaches en regalia” (3:58) A2. “Willie the Pimp” (9:25) A3. “Son of Mr. Green Genes” (8:58) B1. “Little Umbrellas” (3:09) B2. “The Gumbo Variations” (12:55) B3. “It Must Be a Camel” (5:18) Credits: Frank Zappa — guitar, […]
Jean-Luc Ponty is a French violinist who has been musically active since the early 1960s. Jean-Luc Ponty was born in Avranches, France, on September 29, 1942, to a pianist mother and a violinist father. At 18, he graduated with the Premier Prix from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. For the next three […]
The Mahavishnu Orchestra were a multinational jazz-rock ensemble that was active during the early-to-mid-1970s and again during the mid-1980s. Led through all phases by English guitarist John McLaughlin, the lineup underwent two incarnations between 1971 and 1976. The first incarnation was a five-piece band with Czech keyboardist Jan Hammer, Irish bassist Rick Laird, and two […]
Individual Choice is the ninth Atlantic-era studio album by French/American violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, released in August 1983. The album marked a change for the composer/bandleader, who was now incorporating elements of electronic minimalism into his trademark jazz-rock sound. Tracklist: A1. “Computer Incantations for World Peace” (5:43) A2. “Far From the Beaten Paths” (6:02) A3. “In […]
Open Strings is an album by French violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, released in 1973 on MPS. The musician is backed on this release by Experience — a multinational jazz-rock combo that included German pianist Joachim Kühn and English guitarist Philip Catherine. Tracklist: A1. “Flipping, Part I” (4:38) A2. “Flipping, Part II” (10:38) A3. “Flipping, Part III” (5:31) B1. “Open […]
Upon the Wings of Music is an album by French jazz-rock violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, released in 1975 on Atlantic Records. The album marked the beginning of his decade-long run on the label, which promote his work to a global audience. Tracklist: A1. “Upon the Wings of Music” (5:24) A2. “Question With No Answer” (3:25) A3. […]
Apocalypse is the third studio album by multinational jazz-rock ensemble the Mahavishnu Orchestra, produced by George Martin and released in 1974 on Columbia Records. Tracklist: A1. “Power of Love” (4:36) A2. “Vision Is a Naked Sword” (14:16) A3. “Smile of the Beyond” (7:56) B1. “Wings of Karma” (6:12) B2. “Hymn to Him” (19:23) Credits: Jean-Luc […]
Enigmatic Ocean is a symphonic/jazz-rock album by French violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, released in 1977 on Atlantic. The album features the twin guitar talents of English virtuoso Allan Holdsworth and American up-and-comer Daryl Stuermer. The two would respectively join ranks in the upcoming year with symphonic supergroups UK and Genesis. Tracklist: A1. “Overture” (0:47) A2. “The […]
Open Mind is the tenth Atlantic studio release by French/American jazz-rock violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, released in October 1984. The album hears him further explore the electro/minimalism first mined on the prior year’s Individual Choice. Tracklist: A1. “Open Mind” (8:05) A2. “Solitude” (6:05) A3. “Watching Birds” (4:57) B1. “Modern Times Blues” (7:17) B2. “Orbital Encounters” (5:14) B3. […]
A Taste for Passion is a 1979 studio album by French/American violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. The album is the seventh chronological release in his Atlantic-era catalog. Tracklist: A1. “Stay With Me” (5:35) A2. “Sunset Drive” (5:45) A3. “Dreamy Eyes” (4:18) A4. “Beach Girl” (4:56) B1. “A Taste for Passion” (5:22) B2. “Life Cycles” (5:45) B3. “Reminiscene” […]
Imaginary Voyage is the second of two studio albums released in 1976 by French-born/U.S.-based violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. The album is the third of his 12-title run on Atlantic and the first to feature ex-Zappa keyboardist Allan Zavod, whose shimmery sustains would help characterize the remainder of Ponty’s ’70s output. Tracklist: A1. “New Country” (3:07) A2. […]
