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Jean-Luc Ponty (born September 29, 1942) is a versatile French violinist and jazz composer.
Born in Avranches, France, he was trained as a professional classical violinist at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. His attraction to jazz was propelled by Miles Davis' and John Coltrane's music.
He has worked with Stephane Grappelli, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, 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.
Selected discography
- Upon the Wings of Music, 1975
- Aurora, 1976
- Imaginary Voyage, 1976
- Enigmatic Ocean, 1977
- Cosmic Messenger, 1978
- A Taste for Passion, 1979
- Civilised Evil, 1980
- Mystical Adventures, 1982
- Individual Choice, 1983
- Open Mind, 1984
- Fables, 1985
- The Gift of Time, 1987
- Storytelling, 1989
- Tchokola, 1991
- No Absolute Time, 1993
- Le Voyage, 1996
- Live at Chene Park, 1997
- The Very Best of Jean-Luc Ponty, 2000
- Life Enigma, 2001
- The Best of Jean-Luc Ponty, 2002
- Live at Semper Opera, 2002
- In Concert, 2003 (CD and DVD versions)
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