Jean-Luc Ponty - Original Album Series

If you like JLP (and who doesn't?), you can't go wrong with this set. The sound quality is fantastic and sounds essentially indistinguishable from analog, and the price is right. Mine were shipped from England, so it took 2-3 weeks to get them.To get the best sound from CD's, be sure to use a modern player because DAC-chip technology underwent a revolution in about 2010 (the elimination of pre-ringing - pre-ringing caused a subtle but irritating artificiality and sheen known as CD-sound, and eliminating it made CD's sound much more like analog). I have a $100 Nobsound Bluetooth 4.2 Lossless Player, which I gave five stars on Amazon. Years later, I'm even more amazed at it. I've seen similar players selling for $1500, which probably don't sound much if any better. So, they're basically trophies awarded to those with large amounts of disposable incomes and small amounts of technical knowledge.Another important factor in sound quality is audio polarity, which can be "flipped" by flipping the polarity of each speaker connection or by inverting .wav's or FLAC's with an audio editing program. The effect of flipping polarity is subtle and profound at the same time. Some CD's aren't affected much by flipping the polarity (although I thought this about Amazon's Y2K Pat Metheny Group CD for a long time, and believed that it just sounded blah, but in May 2020 finally heard it and realized that its polarity is wrong, and that with its polarity corrected it sounds as transparent as the LP) , but for example the Wilson-remixed Aqualung CD which was mastered by Peter Mews and is sold by itself has the wrong polarity, and you haven't heard it until you've heard it with the right polarity. The same goes for Steely Dan's Alive in America, and I assume many other CD's. Even when a CD is sensitive to polarity, you might have to listen to the CD a few times before you can tell which polarity is correct (if it's wrong, the music just doesn't sound right), which might explain why some people claim that it doesn't matter, but when you've really heard both polarities, you'll know that it's important to use the right one.Polarity controls are essentially nonexistent on consumer audio gear (although I managed to find a couple of Audio Research preamps with polarity controls), and if you want to flip your system's polarity, the only options are to manually flip the polarity of each speaker connection, which can be a real chore, or to put a switch in-line with each speaker cable, as described below.========WARNINGIf you add a polarity switch in line with each speaker cable, as described below, do not flip the polarity at high volume levels, or you might damage your amplifier or speakers.========An example of a simple polarity control is a DPDT light/wall switch with cross-connected throws (throw A+ to throw B-, throw A- to throw B+) in line with each speaker connection - apply the input across the poles and take the output from across the throws, or vice versa. Wall switches and suitable enclosures (plastic outlet/switch boxes) are readily available, and the switches have screw terminals and hefty switch contacts.For solid connections, solder wire terminals on the speaker cables, and on the cross-connecting wires. Actually, one end of the cross-connect should share a terminal with the speaker cable, to ensure the best connection between the speaker cable and the cross-connect. I would avoid using the push-in terminals on the back of the switch because a good connection requires a combination of large surface area and oxygen-free metal-to-metal contact (almost a like a spot-weld), the latter of which requires wiping under high pressure. (This is why I recommend daisy-chaining the cross-connects onto the speaker cable - otherwise, there would be two wire terminals on each screw terminal where a speaker cable and a cross-connect meet, and the bottom terminal wouldn't be subjected to wiping as the screw is tightened, which would compromise its connections to the switch and to the other terminal.) Gold is ideal for audio connections, but a sufficient connection can also be obtained with a screw terminal screwed down on a wire terminal as tightly as possible without stripping the screw.Polarity control for balanced connectionsIf you're lucky enough to have components with balanced connections, you might be able to buy an interconnect with a line-level version of the polarity switch described above. However, it might fry your expensive electronics if you flip the switch at high volume levels. So, it would be advisable to mute the signal before flipping the polarity, and then un-mute afterward.

This collection of five Jean-Luc Ponty albums serves as an excellent introduction to his violin fusion music for the uninitiated listener and is also a staple for the musician's fan base. All five albums offer excellent compositions that are performed by excellent musicians with the music is recorded, mixed, and produced extremely well such that the discerning listener will hear all of the nuances and interplay between the various performers. Every album is a unique offering of jazz fusion carried by JLPs exceptional musicianship in conjunction with tasteful keyboards and lead guitar licks all held together with intricate base lines and rock solid rhythms. If you were to only buy one JLP album then this collection of five disparate recordings is the one you want in your collection. Absolutely fantastic!

JLP has been a favorite for a long time. His compositions are so relaxing to listen.

Very enjoyable and an excellent way to get Ponty's first five Atlantic albums in one package, including his classics of 1970s fusion playing. (Of course, these aren't his first solo efforts; allmusic.com lists no less than 14 Ponty albums before "Upon the Wings of Music"!) The mastering sounds good, and the mini-LP sleeves are OK reproductions--although I would have liked a little more information about the musicians on each album (see below).Musically, these contain some of Ponty's most fiery playing, almost on a par with his work with the second version of the Mahavishnu Orchestra (MO2). Ponty's compositions are more classically melodic and less adventurous than John McLaughlin's, and the playing is more contained, as others have noted here. However, his mastery of his instrument and incredible soloing often lift the material above and beyond expectation.Interesting that all five of these albums use the same band format as the original Mahavishnu Orchestra quintet: violin, guitar, keys, bass, and drums. Perhaps the solid music on these disks is a testimony to the durability of the format. John McLaughlin wanted Ponty to be in the first version of the MO, and these albums give some intriguing suggestions at what could have been.Clearly, the virtuoso Ponty is the star and the focus of his own albums. He isn't challenged by a player of McLaughlin's legendary stature, but he has some very capable support, including bassists Tom Fowler (of Zappa fame) and Ralphe Armstrong (of MO2); a very young Patrice Rushen (before she headed into more pop directions) and Allan Zavod; guitarists Ray Parker, Darryl Steurmer, Alan Holdsworth (!), and Joaquin Lievano; and drummers Ndugu, Mark Craney, and Steve Smith (another youngster, pre-Journey and pre-Vital Information).Here is a more detailed personnel list to save you some searching:Upon the Wings of MusicJLP: violins, synth, string synth; Patrice Rushen: keys (clavinet, synths, piano, e-pno); Dan Sawyer, Ray Parker: guitars; Ralphe Armstrong: bass; Ndugu: drums.AuroraJLP: violins, keys; Patrice Rushen: keys (piano, e-pno, synth); Darryl Stuermer: guitars; Tom Fowler: bass; Norman Fearrington: drums.Imaginary VoyageJLP: violins, organ, synth, vocals; Allan Zavod: keys; Darryl Stuermer: guitars; Tom Fowler: bass; Mark Craney: drums.Enigmatic OceanJLP: violins, bells, keys, vocals; Allan Zavod: keys (clavinet, organ, piano, e-pno, synth); Allan Holdsworth, Darryl Stuermer: guitars; Ralphe Armstrong: bass; Steve Smith: drums.Cosmic MessengerJLP: violins, organ, synth, vocals; Allan Zavod: keys (clavinet, organ, piano, e-pno, synth); Joaquin Lievano, Peter Maunu: guitars; Ralphe Armstrong: bass; Steve Smith: drums.

I'd heard of Jean-Luc Ponty many years ago but I'd not knowingly heard any of his music, until some came up on Spotify as I was listening to a mix one day. Immediately I was hooked and saw this set of albums on Amazon for a ridiculously low price, so I went at bought them. Any prog. rock, jazz rock, jazz funk, jazz fusion lover should like this set of five albums from this/these incredible musician(s)!

Absolutely fantastic! I've listened to all five albums right through four times already and I'm absolutely addicted. I was trying very hard to concentrate when playing scrabble with the partner the other night and was completely distracted by the violin solo, 'Wandering On The Milky Way' from the album 'Imaginary Voyage' as it reminded me instantly of something Steve Hillage might have conjured up. And later 'The Trans-Love Express ' from Enigmatic Ocean also got me into deep do do as I held up play...I still won the game of scrabble so wasn't too far gone.This is my first time listening to anything by Jean-Luc Ponty. So glad I bought this great value set of albums. Can't go wrong for the price.

Stunning set of five albums - all great in my opinion. Super value, can't complain on that front. Shame there is no listing of the musicians, but that can easily be found elsewhere these days.All of the albums come under the 'jazz-fusion in the 70s' banner, with crazy levels of musicianship. The pleasant suprise will come with the amount of melody involved - it's not just a bunch of solos for the sake of it. Even my teenage daughter likes some of the tracks, which is a miracle.

I have had Cosmic Messenger on vinyl for a long time, and when I saw this cd set on offer of his first 5 albums for £11 I thought it a bargain, especially as others had recommended the set as well.Having listened to them all now, I can say it is great value and an excellent way to discover Jean Luc Ponty's music if you are not familiar with his jazz/fusion style.The recordings are very good as well.

I was aware of Jean Luc Ponty for some time and had always wanted to check out his 70s stuff so when I saw this little collection it was an absolute must at the priceAfter just one listen to each album I can say that they are all of an excellent quality and I look forward to exploring these in greater depth