IMAGINARY VOYAGE

Well you could add another star in the evaluation, regarding of the technical skill by J.L. Ponty, sometimes reminding me of another music genius- even though more versatile- such as Eddie Jobson...that' s the point, in 1976 the jazz fusion-genre in the vein of McLoughlin (sometimes disturbed by a more commercial stream, like within the first track "New County") was already an old method to think of introducing a few elements of rock inside a solid basis of experimental jazz...but for instance only one year after that performance (often in the vein of Mahavishnu Orchestra), there was the birth of a new super band like "UK", with the support of A. Holdsworth and the melodic touch by J. Wetton, in order to create an original mix of symphonic music and fusion, but in a modern and intelligent mood...Why wasn't Mr Ponty able to create something like that?! I don't know, but nevertheless "Imaginary Voyage" is a stunning performance anyway! For example the track "The Gardens of Babylon" is a strong tune, where the violin is powerful; but above all the title track (the suite) is a splendid mix between a cool fusion genre in the vein of Return to Forever and a symphonic touch according to the style by Yes...the unique defect is the risk of becoming a little bit repetitive in his performance, but I don't think J.L. Ponty is boring within the present album...perhaps a different modern approach could be more exciting (before I was reminding you of the early "UK", but I could mention also the roots of classical music by Echolyn, inside a strong basis of symphonic fusion...), even though at the end it's a minor defect regarding such a clever French musician like Ponty anyway.

The present work is worth to buy!