Jean-Luc Ponty

I went to school with his daughters - his oldest, Clara, is a fine pianist, and has recorded a couple of albums, though they are more "new age" than jazz. Both she and her sister Eva are very beautiful women as well. Clara was based in New York for awhile, but she may have moved back to Europe by now.

Have never heard that one--how is the material/style compared to Aurora or Imaginary Voyage?

I was fortunate to see him with Zappa, then with Mahavishnu Orch II, and finally his own band. The boy can play!

Cosmic Messenger is a more focused, more layered continuation of Imaginary Voyage (tho the title track to that album is about as visual a musical piece as I can think of!). CM is definitely more complex and mature than Aurora - which is fine in its own rite.

@learsfool - I had forgotten that Clara was a produced musician herself, tho now I remember her cd's and how she was publicized on JLP's own website back in the 90's.

And I love how you're talking about daughters with a screenname like "learsfool". Awesome!

I had a few of his albums and saw him twice in concert but my recollections are fuzzy as to where and what. Masterful musician and talented performer. It's nice to know that others here can refresh my memory through their recollections.

All the best,
Nonoise

Simao, thanks for noticing about the daughters and the screen name! :)

Yeah, I think both of Clara's albums I know of were done in the mid to late 90's. Don't know if she's recorded any since - I know she still performs, but I believe mostly in Europe now. Her sister Eva is a yoga instructor, in Switzerland, I believe.

I think that Clara is on at least one of Jean Luc's albums as well - I know she used to perform with him from time to time.