Jean-Luc Ponty Live At Chene Park CD

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

Although it had been nearly 20 years since violinist Jean-Luc Ponty's last live release, this Detroit concert is a bit disappointing. His rather mechanical approach to writing and arranging in the '90s has taken the excitement out of his playing, resulting in numerous predictable performances that barely seem to vary from the studio versions. The African chant-like "Elephants in Love" and robotic "Infinite Pursuit" almost seem computer-generated. Only his mournful tribute "Eulogy for Oscar Romero" stands out from the rest of this dull concert. ~ Ken Dryden

Recorded live at Chene Park, Detroit, Michigan on June 29, 1996.

Personnel: Jean-Luc Ponty (vocals, violin); Elizabeth Panzer (harp); Ralph Simon (soprano saxophone, synthesizer); Julian Priester (trombone); Paul Bley (piano, synthesizer); Alan Pasqua (piano); Bruce Ditmas (synthesizer, drums); Tom Beyer (synthesizer, percussion); Jeff Berman (vibraphone).

Liner Note Author: Howard Mandel.

Recording information: Kampo Audio (06/29/1996); Sound on Sound (06/29/1996); TMF Studios, New York, NY (06/29/1996).

Photographers: Joanne Dugan; Stephen Locke Krampf.

Personnel: Jean-Luc Ponty (arranger, 5-string Zeta MIDI violin, 6-string violectra); Chris Rhyne (keyboards); Jamie Glaser (electric guitar); Baron Browne (electric bass); Michael Barsimanto (drums).

JazzTimes (8/97, p.70) - "...offers selections pulled from a decade of his best material....The constant here is the improvisational skill and tight timing of Ponty's five-piece ensemble....the band doesn't miss a beat or a key dynamic change."