Jean-Luc Ponty- Enigmatic Ocean Pt. 1-4 REACTION & REVIEW

[@cobbycaputo3332]

The whole album is great. The best suite on the album may actually be "The Struggle of the Turtle to Return to the Sea" which closes out the album. Ralphe gets an extended bass solo in that one and it really cooks. I picked up this album because Holdsworth was on it, and I discovered him by following Bruford from Yes to King Crimson and then to his solo work and with U.K. Really loved Holdsworth's work on the Bruford albums and U.K. so started looking for other stuff he was on. Discovered Ponty, and then went down that rabbit hole buying as many of his albums as I could afford (I think I ended up with seven before I finished high school). It was not as easy as it is today to chase artists around back in the 70's. you could really only buy what the local record store carried, or ask them to order things. I had to mow a lot of lawns and ultimately get a job at Burger King to feed my album habit.

[@lownotes42]

I know what you're saying about chasing artists back in the day. Once I discovered music I got a job, then every Saturday I'd go to every record store in town and look through basically everything they had. It was lot harder back then, but the music you found meant SO much more!!

[@dannylgriffin]

So sorry you had to work at Burger King. But I get it. I delivered newspapers until I could work at a grocery store stocking shelves to feed my album habit. But we do what we have to. I, too, have lots of Jean Luc Ponty. Not all, but I think I have sixteen of his own albums.

[@rembeadgc]

That's probably most Holdsworth devotees' pathway to his music. Following Bill Bruford has lead many of us into very fulfilling territory over many years. Bruford should get royalties just for that!

[@andyshan]

Such a great suite and my favourite part is Allan Holdsworth solo, It's just sublime.

[@rembeadgc]

Holdsworth's solos are generally my favorite part of any song.

[@spacycountry]

the part III of enigmatic ocean is just ✨️M A G I C✨️ in any ways, love it♡

[@georgepapaduke9560]

I love the contrast between the two guitarists. Stuermer's are all gnarly and rockin' while Holdsworth is so smooth yet other worldly. It's like two different instruments entirely.

[@michaelbenz8092]

Daryl Sturrmer's solos are very distinctive from Holdsworth's. Holdsworth is angular and spacious. Stuermer shreds. It prepared him for Genesis In the Cage live. This, I believe, is his peak.

[@cobbycaputo3332]

On this album Steumer is very staccato and Holdsworth is the king of legato.

[@jimwilson5148]

Thank you for doing this piece! I saw this tour when I was in college and it was amazing. People think of the 70's and only think of Saturday Night Fever. I remember the 70's and I think of this, Mahavishnu, Genesis, Zappa, Return to Forever, ELP, and all sorts of incredible music made by incredible musicians

[@JustJP]

Anytime Jim! Ty

[@-R.Gray-]

In Part 2 the first guitarist you heard was Daryl Stuermer. Solos on Pt.2 were Ponty, Stuermer (Left), Zavod, Holdsworth (Right),etc. (Very reminiscent of the Mahavishnu song "One Word", where they trade 4's, 2's, and 1's) . Part 3 was Holdsworth. In Part 4 Holdsworth was in the right speaker. If you see that video of Frank Zappa in N.Y. in the 80's, he had Allan Zavod on keyboards.

[@renemokum]

Part 3 sounds like it could have come from Mahavishnu Orchestra's 'Visions of the Emerald Beyond' (featuring Jean-Luc Ponty and Ralphe Amstrong, who plays bass on both albums). That album was recorded about 2.5 years prior to Enigmatic Ocean). I highly recommend doing a Reaction & Review on that album as well. It's the 2nd incarnation of Mahavishnu Orchestra and very different from the 1st one, but brilliant in it's own right as well.

[@wendellwiggins3776]

a true gem from my youth. saw Ponty first with Zappa and Mahavishnu Orchestra and solo later in the 80's. Got to shake his hand and noticed how small they were. Perfect violin palms! LOL

[@bigfacedboy]

Unlike Alan Holdsworth, who had hands like shovels.

[@reverts3031]

Used to have this on 8-track. I'd put this in and it wouldn't stop! Nope! There are so many albums!!! Each one has its own sound. Loved it when he teamed up with Stanley Clarke and Al Di Meola. Saw them all in concert with a special appearance by Larry Coryell (who was named as Di Meola's teacher - and after the solo he did, I'd believe it.)

[@jimhardiman3836]

Oh Yeah! Top their fusion IMO. Ponty always brought the funky grooves which kept things moving along.

[@maruad7577]

I love this album. Almost 1/2 a century later and it is still amazing. Am I the only one who hears hints of the theme music from the original Star Trek in there?

[@mushbone]

I always listen to Mirage to prepare me for the magic that follows in the 4 parts of Ocean. I can still remember the first time I heard this album. I had never heard anything like it. It changed my life.

[@-davidolivares]

I know my friend had this album because of the huge portrait on the cov but most is not ringing a bell… a small part tingalinged. I’m grateful for getting to listen again to this with everyone, and I’m painting while I do it, heaven. Doing a cactuscape if anyone is wondering. Prickly comments are welcome.

[@maruad7577]

I really wish I knew more about cacti so I could make an appropriate cacti related dad joke.

[@-davidolivares]

@@maruad7577 Ouch.

[@marjamkiewdetoledomoraeski936]

In Part II , the second soloist is guitarrist Darryl Stürmer, Allan ia number 4😊👍

[@martintayler23]

Justin, Daryl's guitar on the right and Allan's on the left in Part 2. Part 3 has a great Holdsworth solo before it resolves in Part 4. I can listen to this over and over. This piece and 'Mirage' and the 'The Struggle of the Turtle to Return to the Sea' are just sublime, and all this nearly 50 years ago!

[@mushbone]

I've told my daughter that she has to play Part IV at my funeral. I'm pretty sure it will bring me back to life.

[@JustJP]

Its a lovely piece :D

[@davidcandelaria4411]

I was lucky enough to see this tour, it was my first year in college around 78....the band was exactly the same except for Allen.

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

Great suite of tracks. There are times, especially in Part I, when it sounds like a jazz Yes, which IMO is a great concept! And the second part is pure energy - you could power a small city on that music.

[@unichusettsofmassadversity9705]

It Is like a boat ride! Heading out and then heading in. I love this album!

[@Ker-mk3bf]

Love it........it's just plain magic! 💖💖

[@shyshift]

Ponty,Steurmer,Zavod,Holdsworth

[@johndrx165]

Got a great used LP copy of this at my local Record store recently. Awesome!

[@rembeadgc]

Jazz fusion classic!

[@Lightmane]

Phenomenal album

[@ZalMoxis]

I think I still have this on vinyl somewhere.... Grrrrreat💪 watch out for that Moog JP.....

[@alberthaust4542]

There are two guitar players, Alan, and Daryl Stuermer who played with Phil Collins and Genesis.

[@dannylgriffin]

JP, I encourage you to keep going with JLP. You won't be disappointed (unless, possibly, you do some very early stuff. That is different). But anything recorded in the 70's or 80's or 90's...

[@glenndespres5317]

Holy shades of Mahavishnu! And throw in some Al DiMeola….. Race with the Devil on Spanish Highway anyone? Love this stuff!

[@a.k.1740]

As this suite demonstrates, sometimes Jean-Luc Ponty's Jazz fusion is incredibly verbose and the playing of the participants very busy, nevertheless it remains surprisingly fluid, elegant and pleasant to listen to (unlike a lot of music in this genre which favors overbidding).

[@toddkobylarz4758]

JLP is the shit. If you have no attention span, its not for you, but if you have an OPEN MIND........

[@JustJP]

He's so good🙂

[@BrianR.]

I feel strongly that as part of your Beatles journey, you need to react to side 1 of the Yellow submarine album. There are some real gems there that shouldn't be overlooked. It's All Too Much, Hey Bulldog, It's Only a Northern Song and more. Hope you will consider doing this. Thanks.

[@linusfotograf]

This is peak Fusion. Love this type of melodic and rythmic stuff. Can I suggest you go back to Pekka Pohjola?

[@shemanic1]

Great album, but for me "Aurora" is the best album with "Renaissance" My top track of Jean-Luc Ponty.

[@DavidImiri]

Lovely prog fusion. Too many noodling notes and too frenetic for my taste, doesn't really move the heart. Synth on part 2 seems almost Moraz-like to me, guitar solo on part 3 awesome Holdsworth amidst that chunky groove, violin and bass consistently amazing, part 4 reminds me of a progged up Chuck Mangione. Overall just about what you'd want and expect from Ponty, very satisfying for what it is, but still leaves me a little underwhelmed.