[Review] Jean-Luc Ponty: Cosmic Messenger (1978)
Another enjoyable album of prog/fusion, although you’ve probably got the message by now.
Kronomyth 11.0: From Zenn-La to Shangri-la.
It’s ironic that I keep writing the same boring review of Jean-Luc Ponty’s music while complaining that his albums—or at least the Atlantic albums—all sound alike. What I fail to mention is that I’ve listened to each of these albums dozens (in some cases, well over one hundred) times. Clearly, Ponty has struck a chord with me. Cosmic Messenger is one of my favorite Ponty albums, a fondness perhaps born of familiarity, since it was the third Ponty album I bought (after Mystical Adventures and Upon the Wings of Music). Now, I wouldn’t say I’m happy to see Allan Holdsworth and Daryl Stuermer go, but new guitarists Peter Maunu (who actually began as a violinist) and Joaquin Leivano bring their own unique styles to the group’s sound, as does new drummer Casey Scheuerell. The band’s prog-fusion is displayed to fine effect on the title track and Egocentric Molecules, two songs that would merit consideration when the best of JLP is tallied. There are some softer songs (I Only Feel Good with You, Ethereal Mood) and the usual complex patterns with superlative soloing (Fake Paradise, The Art of Happiness). Over the years, Ponty has brought guitars into the fore of his sound, while pushing the keyboards into the background. This has occasioned me to complain at various times that the keyboard player (whether Patrice Rushen or, here, Allan Zavod) isn’t given enough chances to solo. As Ponty began to play more synthesizers, maybe he saw the keyboard as a textural element, I don’t know. Anyway, the takeaway here should be that Cosmic Messenger provides some wonderful mind-candy moments and lots of hot fusion. There’s no denying that Ponty and the group have something to say, even if some of it has been said before.
Original LP Version
A1. Cosmic Messenger (4:38)
A2. The Art of Happiness (4:33)
A3. Don’t Let The World Pass You By (6:23)
A4. I Only Feel Good With You (3:05)
B1. Puppets’ Dance (3:40)
B2. Fake Paradise (5:41)
B3. Ethereal Mood (4:03)
B4. Egocentric Molecules (5:44)
All music composed and orchestrated by Jean-Luc Ponty.
The Players
Jean-Luc Ponty (five-string electric violin, electric violin, organ, lead synthesizer, orchestron, acoustic violin), Ralphe Armstrong (electric bass, fretless electric bass), Joaquin Lievano (electric guitar, acoustic guitar), Peter Maunu (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, guitar synthesizer), Casey Scheuerell (drums, percussion), Allan Zavod (electric piano, polyphonic synthesizer, lead synthesizer, grand piano, organ). Produced by Jean-Luc Ponty; engineered and mixed by Ed E. Thacker.
The Pictures
Cover concept by Claudia Ponty. Front cover painting by Daved Levitan. Back cover photo by Gary Heery. Inner sleeve photos by Sam Emerson.
The Plastic
Released on elpee and 8-track on August 10, 1978 in the US (Atlantic, SD/TP 19189), the UK (Atlantic, K 50505), Brazil (WEA, 30083) and Germany (Atlantic, ATL 50505) with picture innersleeve. Reached #36 on the US charts and #2 on the US Jazz charts.
- Re-issued on compact disc and cassette in July 1987 in the US (Atlantic, 19189-2/CS 19189).
- Re-issued on compact disc in Japan (Atlantic, AMCY-2095).
- Re-issued on cassette in 1993 in India (Magnasound, C11J0609).
- Re-issued on compact disc on January 16, 2009 in Japan (Warner, BELLE 081464).
- Re-issued on super disk elpee in the US (Direct Disk Labs, SD 16603).
