Jean-Luc Ponty

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Jean-Luc Ponty (born September 29, 1942) is a virtuoso French ist and composer.

Born in Avranches, France, he was trained as a professional violinist at the Paris Conservatory. His attraction to jazz was propelled by Miles Davis’s and John Coltrane’s music.

He has worked with Stéphane Grappelli, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Frank Zappa, and has appeared on over seventy recordings.

In 1977 he pioneered the use of the 5-string electric violin, with a lower C string. He sometimes also uses a 6-string electric violin called the Violectra, with low C and F strings – not to be confused with the violectra he played from the late 1960s to the mid-80s which had 4 strings, but tuned an octave lower. Ponty was among the first to combine the violin with MIDI, distortion boxes, phase shifters, and wah-wah pedals. This resulted in his signature, almost synthesizer-like sound.

In 2005 Ponty formed the acoustic fusion supergroup TRIO! with legendary bassist Stanley Clarke and Banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck.
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  • Tchokola
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  • King Kong
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  • The Gift Of Time
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  • Storytelling
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  • ooMaz3Roo

    Mystical adventures is such a vivid album!

    14 days ago
  • Gabriel_Opeth

    you're a genius

    March 2012
  • sl8221958

    "Imaginary Voyage" and "Upon The Wings Of Music" are my favorites.

    March 2012
  • ColonelSlog

    COSMIC MESSENGER should be a national anthem for outer space

    March 2012
  • AgutnaM

    Thanks for the concert in Chile. I've listened to the most beautiful sounds and music... I will always keep it in my memory.

    December 2011
  • Mars312

    Storytelling is beautiful.

    November 2011
  • PUCIKKO

    f a n t a s t i c o

    October 2011
  • Assedor

    He's one of those who continue to make juzz-rock music such a fashionable nowadays. Although his music is overloaded with philosophical concepts in it is pure joy.

    June 2011
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