593. Jean-Luc Ponty

August 15, 2024 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(August 2024) Episode 593 is JEAN-LUC PONTY. I came to French-born Ponty through his work with Frank Zappa, notably Hot Rats. That’s the reason I list his album of Zappa interpretations as my favorite, although not his best. I do love me some jazz violin (especially Django Reinhardt collaborator Stéphane Grappelli, with whom Ponty collaborated). Much of Ponty’s recordings are classified as jazz fusion, a genre that tends to repulse me (likely due to being over-exposed to it by high school jazz bandmates). But Ponty’s treatment of the genre is generally digestible and often enjoyable.

Favorite album: King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa

Favorite original album: Imaginary Voyage

Favorite collaboration album: Violin Summit with Stuff Smith, Stephane Grappelli, Svend Asmussen

Favorite song: Stay with Me

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: His mid-70s albums are his best, although those are heavy fusion. The early albums are closer to regular jazz and have their own charm.

417. Jeff Beck

June 20, 2022June 20, 2022 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(June 2022) Episode 417 is JEFF BECK. One of the three Gods of Guitar to emerge from the Yardbirds, he did not earn the same fame as Page or Clapton. This may be due to an idiosyncratic, haphazard output that veered in style from blues rock to jazz fusion, pop rock, rockabilly and modern rock, all of which provided platform for his guitar chops. His musical legacy, though, comes from the first two albums, with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, which laid the foundation for heavy metal and blues rock, and gave us some classic rock staples. And of course from his much-admired innovations and talents on the six strings.

Favourite album: Truth

Favourite song: Beck’s Bolero

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: mostly for guitar-o-philes

152. Mahavishnu Orchestra

January 19, 2019April 6, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(December 2017) I have completed episode 152 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA. Cosmic 1970s jazz-prog rock fusion.

Favorite album: The Inner Mounting Flame

Favorite song: Vital Transformation

Compared to expectations: same ↓

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142. Pat Metheny

January 19, 2019April 4, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(October 2017) I have completed episode 142 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: PAT METHENY. One of my favorite guitarists. His long and prolific recording career (50+ albums) spans a wide range of jazz genres — straight, fusion, avant-garde, progressive, folk, Latin. It is rather odd that, in my opinion, the music of a jazz musician from Missouri (mostly the early stuff) can evoke images of driving on open roads under a big Western sky.