Jean-Luc Ponty "Upon the Wings of Music" 1975***

It's unusual for me to present two violin-based jazz rock fusion LPs in succession - it's not like I have a lot of those in my collection - but here it is: French violinist Jean-Luc Ponty's 1975 solo LP Upon the Wings of Music (UTWOM) was the first of an exceptionally successful string of albums for the Atlantic label; at the time he was mostly known as a member of Mahavishnu Orchestra and as a star collaborator, both for experimental combo's like Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and pop stars like Elton John. I must admit I'm not usually a fan of instrumental music, but I find UTWOM to be very listenable thanks to the great musicianship involved: Ponty, of course, on classical and electric violin as well as synthesizers, but the rest of the band too - especially keyboardist Patrice Rushen and drummer Ndugu. As is often the case with jazz, compositions (all Ponty originals) are of secondary importance compared to performance, but anyway the ones that stand out for me are crammed on Side 1: it opens with the title track, featuring insistent drumming and funky bass. The synthesizers are quite upfront here, and there are some lovely keyboard arpeggios, but it's the violin solos that steal the show here. Follower "Question With No Answer" is a more mellow composition, as is "Now I Know". If the first track is closer to electronic music, second one to classical, and the third closer to the blues, to me the highlight is track number 4, the one closer to prog rock. "Polyfolk Dance" has by far the most memorable riffs as well as some tasty electric guitar and insanely fast violin passages. Side 2 is quite listenable, but - with the exception of closer "Fight For Life" - it offers less thrills. "Echoes Of The Future" is an interesting experiment: consisting solely of multiple violin overdubs, you'd expect it to sound like an orchestra but often you think you're hearing a percussive instrument or synthesizer. Generally the violin may be the dominant instrument in this album, but lovers of classical or folk strings won't find much to like here, as it's often distorted and laden with electronic effects. If, on the other hand, you're into jazz, funk, fusion, prog, and early electronic music, (or -ideally- a combination thereof), this LP should be right up your alley.

**** for Upon The Wings Of Music, Question With No Answer, Polyfolk Dance, Fight For Life 

*** for Now I Know, Waving Memories, Bowing Bowing

** for Echoes Of The Future