Customer Reviews

Pleasing and pleasant album.
Let me say from the outset that I enjoy this album, and it will I'm sure be played much in the future in my household.
He is a wonderful 'jazz' violinist, and as we all know there are very few of them about, and I can't help wondering if record companies are perhaps struggling to find a way to market them to their (and Ponty's) best advantage.
The veteran musician has an enviable technique on the violin, and a wonderfully full and warm tone; and when given reign to do so can swing like the clappers. He has a great harmonic sense, and loves to play.
For the long time listener of Jean-Luc Ponty, "Acatama" or...better "ATACAMA" is the product of a band that has been playing together for at least six years and a culmination of Ponty's entire fusion career.
2001's Life Enigma marked a welcome return to the studio after an eight year drought, but his crack band was utilized sparingly.
Ponty chose to play or program most of the instruments and bring in band members to help in varying degrees as he saw fit; Individual Choice seemed to be the template that he was working from.
In contrast, JLP includes his band much more for The Acatama Experience, and that's a good thing, because some of his best records have resulted from using a road-tested rhythm section. It's the the same touring band he employed sporadically for Life Enigma: William Lecomte on keyboards, Guy Nsangué Akwa on electric bass, Thierry Arpino on drums and Taffa Cissé on percussion.
Another old trick that Jean Luc pulls out of his bag is bringing in guest guitarists for spot duty, and true to his ol' form, only the finest will do. In the past, Ponty has hired luminaries like George Benson and Genesis tour member Daryl Stuermer. This time, he brings in guys who played with him back in the heyday seventies: Belgian/English fusion heavy Philip Catherine and that electric guitar virtuoso's virtuoso known as Allan Holdsworth. The overall approach of tour band + star sessionists and just the overall sound of this record makes it more akin to 1989's consistently good Storytelling.
As if to be starting a globe trotting journey in his home country, the first song of the collection is a modernized version of Bud Powell's sunny bop classic, "Parisian Thoroughfare" complete with a mildly hip-hop beat.The funkiest song is saved for end; "To And Fro", with a nice, syncopated groove provided by Akwa (Ponty's best ever bassist) and Arpino.
There is plenty of full-bodied and melodic violin, coupled with gently swinging and sympathetic backing.
The session has that degree of spark and something special that ignites and inflames the mind and turns this pleasing and pleasant album into something memorable.
It's a very enjoyable listening experience.

THIS ONE SUPRISED ME!
This latest JLP cd surprised me. I think i was expecting another "power house" recording; instead, in my opinion, the Acatama Experience (and i don't care if the title is misspelled) shows JLP's softer side. To be honest, at first i wasn't sure if i liked it because i had listened to mr. ponty rocking the house for so long. but the more i played it, i began to appreciate and love it as much as his previous albums, and i can't stop listening to it now. this latest recording is a must-have for your JLP collection!

For an old fan of JLP; 6 Stars
If you are an old fan of JLP, you are simply going to love his new release.
Who can play the violin with all the sounds of the Guitar, keyboard and violin and release sounds from Rock to fusion to classic jazz all combined in one album better or close to JLP?
Simply no one.
This album is simply a tight, fresh and mature fantastic Jazz release. Jean Luc Ponty

Another previous well recommended release for JLP: Individual Choice