IMAGINARY VOYAGE

It was obvious that by mid-70's Ponty was searching for long-time collaborators so he could focus on a personal career.For his second album on Atlantic, besides Darryl Stuermer and Tom Fowler, he recruited new keyboardist Allan Zavod and drummer Mark Craney, who later had a brief involvement in the Jethro Tull line-up.''Imaginary voyage'' was recorded at the Kendun Studios in Burbank, California during the summer of 1976, before seeing the light the same year.

Ponty was already familiar with the American tradition, after so many years living and working in the USA, so the first part of this album even contains some Country flavors among the Classical workouts of Ponty and his violin.The style remains a pleasant and enjoyable Jazz/Fusion with very melodic violin drives and solos, still there is plenty of room for some nice synthesizers and electric piano.Some boogie grooves in the vein of THE DIXIE DREGS just strengthen the link between Ponty and his inspiration from the American way of living.The flipside of the LP is captured by the 20-min. all instrumental 4-part suite ''Imaginary voyage'' in an attempt by Ponty to come up with a composition having also proggy vibes among his typical Fusion stylings.This suite shows Ponty moving away from the Mahavishnu Orchestra-style of Jazz/Fusion for a more WEATHER REPORT-approach and is dominated by some incredible and dreamy synth solos, doubled by electric piano, while Stuermer's presence is more apparent in the last and longer part, offering tasteful jazzy guitar solos.Complex rhythms and tight interplays are also present, especially in the opening parts, in a track that maintains a rich and virtuosic delivery all the way.

Ponty begins to establish himself as a competetive composer alongside his undoubtful playing skills.A very good album of technical yet melodic Jazz/Fusion, characterized by series of smooth interplays and careful solos.Recommended.