The demands of this doomed schedule eventually brought him to a crossroads. So it was that Ponty found himself leading a dual musical life: rehearsing and performing with the orchestra while also playing jazz until 3 AM at clubs throughout Paris. Fueled by an all-encompassing creative passion, Jean-Luc soon felt the need to express his jazz voice through his main instrument, the violin. A growing interest in the jazz sounds of Miles Davis and John Coltrane compelled him to take up the tenor saxophone. It proved a life-changing jumping-off point. While still a member of the orchestra in Paris, Ponty picked up a side gig playing clarinet (which his father had taught him) for a college jazz band that regularly performed at local parties. In turn, he was immediately hired by one of the major symphony orchestras, Concerts Lamoureux, where he played for three years. At sixteen, he was admitted to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, graduating two years later with the institution's highest award, Premier Prix. His father taught violin, his mother taught piano. Ponty was born in a family of classical musicians on Septemin Avranches, France. He is widely regarded as an innovator who has applied his unique visionary spin that has expanded the vocabulary of modern music. Is a pioneer and undispute master of violin in the arena of jazz and rock. Recorded in December 1971 at MPS-Studio, Villingen, Germany Fascinating and exciting music on the edge. Sad Ballad builds in intensity before subsiding into a melancholy melody juxtaposing chaos and simplicity. Open Strings has the musicians playing off each other – there’s a lot of risk-taking here, and Kühn’s technical mastery, sense of humor, and sheer inventiveness is mind-boggling. The interplay ranges from melodic to aleatory explorations. Flipping Parts I, II and III are a triptych of connected pieces with ever-changing tempos, moods and modes, as the musicians exchange places and combinations. Pianist Joachim Kühn is something of a German legend, and American bassist Peter Warren has played with just about everyone from Dionne Warwick to Don Cherry. Recorded in 1971 after working together for over a year together, this quintet of world-renowned musicians play on the creative edge. Critic Joachim Berendt wrote, “Since Ponty, the jazz violin has been a different instrument.” Open Strings presents Ponty at his pre-fusion best. Gifted with astounding technique, Frenchman Jean-Luc Ponty single-handedly brought the violin into the modern jazz era.
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