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Cosmic Messenger – Jean-Luc Ponty (1978)


“Cosmic Messenger” was the title track of an album by French jazz-fusion artist Jean-Luc Ponty, released in 1978. The album was a great success for Ponty, peaking at number two on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and crossing over to reach #36 on the Pop Album chart, as well. Jean-Luc Ponty (born September 29, 1942) is a French virtuoso violinist and jazz composer. Ponty was born into a family of classical musicians in Avranches, France. His father taught violin, his mother taught piano. At sixteen, he was admitted to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, graduating two years later with the institution’s highest award, Premier Prix. In turn, he was immediately hired by one of the major symphony orchestras, Concerts Lamoureux, where he played violin for three years. While still a member of the orchestra in Paris, Ponty picked up a side gig playing clarinet (which his father had taught him) for a college jazz band that regularly performed at local parties. It proved to be a life-changing jumping-off point. A growing interest in the jazz sounds of Miles Davis and John Coltrane compelled him to take up the tenor saxophone. One night after an orchestra concert, still wearing his formal tuxedo, Ponty found himself at a local jazz club with only his violin. Within four years, he was widely accepted as the leading figure in jazz violin. At first, the violin proved to be a handicap. Few at the time viewed the instrument as having a legitimate place in the modern

25 Responses to “ Cosmic Messenger – Jean-Luc Ponty (1978) ”

  1. MrMadscotsman Says:

    totally agree rob- back to the garage days of High School


  2. TheCheesemelter Says:

    one person didn’t inhale.


  3. tusbluftusbl1 Says:

    How many times i listened to this record ! Wonderful track of JLP. I’ve always liked his music !


  4. Concepcion8able Says:

    The best thing he ever did It will go on and on..*


  5. Coowallsky Says:

    I would easily put Guy Nsangue Akwa in the same class as Ralphe.


  6. heapbigtalk Says:

    i remember this :o ) ~ 


  7. bassturkey Says:

    I saw him live back in the day in Morristown, N.J. Ralphe Armstrong was the bassist. The concert was so true to the album. I just couldn’t believe they could play that way live. Alan Holdsworth on guitar and Ralphe on bass. I’ve heard all of the other Ponty bassists (and with the exception of Tim Fowler in the early years) they are all fine, but they can never measure up to Ralphe.


  8. erikleif1 Says:

    my sister thought this to be the best modern album of the 70’s – she is long dead – rip – but her soul lives on in this


  9. RUTHWEGNER Says:

    thanks for this music JLP


  10. oldagetraveler Says:

    super


  11. tspop Says:

    Still fantastic music even after thirty years


  12. iade38 Says:

    really great


  13. trioptimumscapes Says:

    awesome


  14. SkyScenery Says:

    Music from the endless cosmos…


  15. robertmayol Says:

    oh my gosh people…! i celebrated my 54th birthday 2 days ago but Jean-Luc sent me back to the future. thanks djbuddylovecooljazz. thank you very much man….


  16. Myriam9943 Says:

    I go on FlirtyCams. O_R_G to date, because I think it’s a outstanding website for dating


  17. FrenchFlower1 Says:

    FANTASTIQUE JOB!!!!!!! LOVED “the montage”. Yes, were both from France, and my B-day is also 9/29 just different years. hahahaha But, Im a brass-player. My daughter is the violinist. peace bro


  18. fiebrucustoms Says:

    I too miss the late 70’s early 80’s. I too used to smoke a dubbie and just chill listening to this wonderful music. Miss the hell out of that time!!!! This song is still timeless!


  19. ThaGamerBoi Says:

    the badest man on earth


  20. Rayneenights Says:

    I love his electric violin works. The sound is so spacey!


  21. terrygand Says:

    This ` sound` is “CLASSSSSSSSS”. I recommend `Hemp & Meditation`, Those 3 really `go-together`! Live Long & Prosper.


  22. terrygand Says:

    This ` sound` is “CLASSSSSSSSS”. I recommend `Hemp & Meditation`, Those 3 really `go-together`! Live Long & Prosper.


  23. Jimbo1151960 Says:

    LOVE JEAN LU PONTY MUSIC BUT YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT MARK WOOD AT MARK WOOD.COM I JUST SAW HIM PERFORM ” WHAT AN ARTIST” JUST AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER THAN JEAN LU PONTY


  24. bucsfan121261 Says:

    Best fusion jazz song ever.


  25. jettkrash Says:

    My old buddy Ed Adair used to get stoned listening to this too in high school back in 78. thanks for the memories. Much better than the crap Yanni does.


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