Jean-Luc Ponty: King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Play auf LP

Product Information

In 1969, the legendary Frank Zappa introduced the rock music world to the stellar electric violin and keyboard work of Jean-Luc Ponty.

Their collaborative work together on his album Hot Rats proved to be a success with the progressive rock movement and therefore more recording ensued between the two master musicians with the collaborative masterwork King Kong: Jean Luc Ponty Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa.

Born in France, Jean-Luc Ponty had immediate success as a classical musician in his home country at a young age but soon caught the jazz bug and later developed his own fusion sound, experimenting with various electronics to amplify his violin, which led to massive acclaim all over Europe. His talent was very unique as the violin music he created resembled characteristics of wind instruments like the saxophone as well as the electric lead guitar, when he employed devices like wah-wah pedals and fuzz boxes to his amplified violin.

Fame quickly spread to the United States thanks to an invite to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival and a new recording contract with World Pacific /Blue Note Records.

Introduced to each other’s music a year earlier by legendary jazz producer Dick Bock, both Frank Zappa and Jean-Luc Ponty began recording the King Kong album in 1970. The sessions featured a handful of Zappa’s earlier classics like Idiot Bastard Son from We’re Only In It For The Money, America Goes Home and Drinks from Absolutely Free, as well as the exceptional orchestral piece composed especially for this album Music for Electric Violin and Low Budget Orchestra.

Their collaboration proved to be a windfall for the fans and the music world alike. Along with some of the finest musicians ever assembled for a futuristic piece of music like this, both Zappa and Ponty soulfully displayed their amazing talents to create a modern day classic. Featuring Mothers of Invention cohorts like George Duke, Ian Underwood, and Artie Tripp III, as well as top jazzmen like Wilton Felder (The Jazz Crusaders) and Ernie Watts, Frank Zappa’s compositions, his arrangements and his guitar flavorings, and Jean-Luc Ponty’s violin work made this album the masterwork it is to this day. For further proof, just check out the amazing dual lead guitar and violin breaks on Ponty’s own How Would You Like To Have A Head LikeThat, truly one of the coolest fusion collaborations ever caught on wax.

It is with much honor and excitement to announce the first time ever 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl limited edition release of Jean-Luc Ponty’s King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa. Mastered impeccably from the original World Pacific/ Blue Note tapes by Joe Reagoso at Friday Music Studios with Kevin Gray, King Kong is truly an incredible choice and listen for the audiophile vinyl domain.

Also, for the first time in several decades, the original Ron Wolin album cover graphics are used with the informative liner notes by jazz author Leonard Feather as well as captivating studio shots of Frank Zappa and Jean-Luc Ponty during the recording of this very important and probably one of the first jazz rock fusion projects of that time.

The King Kong album will come packaged in a poly sleeve to protect the LP cover as well as a poly lined inner sleeve to keep the 180 Gram Vinyl in great shape for years to come. (fridaymusic. com)