Jean-Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean (1977)

Consistently imaginative, Enigmatic Ocean is one of Jean-Luc Ponty's finest accomplishments. The French violinist recorded his share of fusion gems during the 1970s, and this album is at the top of the list. Often aggressive but sometimes reflective and moody, this CD is as unpredictable as it is adventurous. Ponty has plenty of room to stretch out, let loose, and blow, and electric guitarists Allan Holdsworth and Daryl Stuermer contribute some inspired solos as well. Also quite impressive is the insightful and passionate drumming of Steve Smith, who went on to lead the superb fusion band Vital Information. Ponty takes one risk after another, and all of them pay off beautifully.

by Alex Henderson at All Music Guide

Style:
Fusion

Tracks:
01 Overture
02 The Trans-Love Express
03 Mirage
04 Enigmatic Ocean, Part 1
05 Enigmatic Ocean, Part 2
06 Enigmatic Ocean, Part 3
07 Enigmatic Ocean, Part 4
08 Nostalgic Lady
09 The Struggle of the Turtle to the Sea, Part 1
10 The Struggle of the Turtle to the Sea, Part 2
11 The Struggle of the Turtle to the Sea, Part 3

Line-up:
Jean-Luc Ponty - piano / keyboards / vocals / bells / violone / violectra
Ralph Armstrong - acoustic and electric bass
Allan Holdsworth - acoustic and electric guitar
Steve Smith - drums
Daryl Stuermer - acoustic, rhythm and electric guitar
Allan Zavod - organ / synthesizer / acoustic and electric piano / keyboards / clavinet

Jean-Luc Ponty - Imaginary Voyage (1976)

As of 1976, Jean-Luc Ponty's variations on the Mahavishnu Orchestra theme were still fresh and imaginative, cast in a distinctively different, more lyrical, more controlled framework. For Imaginary Voyage, Ponty's instrumental lineup is identical to that of Mahavishnu -- electric violin, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums -- but he turns the emphasis on its head, with all commands coming directly from the violin (his) and less competitive crossplay emanating from his colleagues. For starters, "New Country" is a lively jazz-rock hoedown, one of those periodic C&W side trips that some fusioneers attempted for a lark, and "The Gardens of Babylon" is a wonderfully memorable tune, the beginnings of which grow out of "New Country." The last half of the CD is taken up by the title composition, a strong four-part suite that hangs together with barely a sag in interest over its 20-minute span.
by Richard S. Ginell at All Music Guide.

Styles:
Fusion
Post-Bop
Crossover Jazz

Tracks:
01 New Country
02 The Gardens of Babylon
03 Wandering on the Milky Way
04 Once upon a Dream
05 Tarantula
06 Imaginary Voyage, Part 1
07 Imaginary Voyage, Part 2
08 Imaginary Voyage, Part 3
09 Imaginary Voyage, Part 4

Line-up:
Jean-Luc Ponty - electric and acoustic violins / organ and background synthesizers
Daryl Struermer - electric and acoustic guitars
Allan Zavod - electric keyboard and acoustic piano
Tom Fowler - electric bass
Mark Craney - percussion