Favorite Jean-Luc Ponty guitarist

Jean-Luc Ponty has recorded with a tremendous wealth of prog/jazz fusion's greatest guitarists (as well as with jazz giant Stéphane Grappelli). If you haven't heard much of Jean-Luc's work, vote for your favorite. If you've heard a lot of Jean-Luc's albums, vote for the one that you think performs best with Jean-Luc's style. Personally I like the acoustic guitarists with Ponty's electric violins, but some of Holdsworth and Lievano's best work definitely came with Jean-Luc.

Wow, an interesting poll!   Also one that was difficult for me, but I had to go with the name that first came to mind: Holdsworth.  His legato, smoothness, speed, and tone fit very well with Ponty's electric violin stylings.  McLaughlin and Di Meola were also contenders.  Special mention to Yves N'Djock because he is not going to get much attention here.

I've not heard all of these, but Enigmatic Ocean for me has the perfect combo of Ponty and Holdsworth.

Edited by The Quiet One - September 21 2011 at 13:13

I had to give Daryl a tip o' the hat!  I never saw/heard him with Ponty, but when I saw the Genesis show for "Then There Were Three," the pudgy guy onstage with the big afro looked familiar....when he played his six-string electric, I knew it was him (Guitar Player magazine had published an interview with him, and he raved about his Hagstrom "Swede" electric guitar).  

I decided to narrow it down to guys that played on Ponty's albums rather than guys whose albums Ponty played on.  Ponty albums with Holdsworth are my favorites.

You should add Ray Gomez to the list. When I saw Ponty's Imaginary Voyage tour, Gomez was unknown to me but blew me away. Certainly not as accomplished as others on the list but he at least deserves to be there.

Holdsworth.