NO ABSOLUTE TIME

One day in October 1999 I had a hard day at work. To relax, I went to a record store to buy some CDs, really to find a "musical therapy". That day I bought this CD (and also the CD version of "Storytelling"). I had the curiosity to buy this album after I listened to the song "Caracas" in the live CD "Live at Chene Park"some months before in the same year.Again, I found some changes in style in Ponty`s music. I read that in his "Tchokola" album he played with some African musicians who influenced the music. In this "No Absolute Time" album Ponty again played with these African musicians, plus Wally Minko who plays some keyboards, and Kevin Eubanks who played guitar in "Blue Mambo".

The African musicians are very good. The percussionists (Abdou Mboup and Sydney Thiam) and the drummer/percussionist (Moktar Samba) are particularly very good. Sometimes the percussion and the drums sound like programmed instruments because these musicians never miss a beat.The guitars (played by Martin Atangana) are again less prominent.This album is more "atmospheric" in sound due to more use of the keyboards.The violins and the percussion are the central focus in the arrangements.The bassist (Guy Nsangue) sometimes plays some "solos".

My favourite songs in this album are:"Savannah", "Dance of the Spirits", "Forever Together" (the best of all, IMO), "Caracas", "The African Spirit" and "Blue Mambo".

In conclusion, it is a very good album, different in style to other Ponty`s albums that I have listened to. It is a "peaceful" album. It was a good buy for that day.