Cosmic Messenger

Jean-Luc Ponty | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic
• ASIN: B000002I9J
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,725 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: PONTY,JEAN-LUC
Title: COSMIC MESSENGER
Street Release Date: 07/07/1987
Domestic
Genre: JAZZ

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jean-Luc without the Suites, March 6, 2002

By 

Jeff Arenson (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cosmic Messenger (Audio CD)

"Cosmic Messenger" was the folow up to "Enigmatic Ocean". On it Jean-Luc has a collection of songs but there isn't a suite/concerto like on "Imaginary Voyage" or "Enigmatic Ocean". This doesn't mean that the disc was bad because it still is very good. Jean-Luc,once again, surrounds himself with world class musicians and does create some incredible music. "Cosmic Messenger" is a Ponty showcase piece. It is ethereal in nature and Ponty does show a different side to his writing than on his previous discs. "Egocentric Molecules" is a hyperdrive tune that has guitar, bass, and violin solos in it and is incredible. If you can find the live version of this or see Jean-Luc play this you will be stunned. The bass line and soloing by Ralphe Armstrong is unbelievable. The rest of the songs on the disc are more examples of Ponty's ability to write and imrovise in his own brilliant style. If you are a Jean-L:uc fan or want to discover the world of Ponty "Cosmic Messenger" is a disc for you.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Guitarists Take Note....It Blasts!, October 30, 2002

By 

Douglas J. Hultsman "doogie_rigel4" (Corinth, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cosmic Messenger (Audio CD)

That's right. Guitarists. Jean Luc does get ample space to show off his elegant 4-stringer, but the first time I heard this back in '78', the first words out of my mouth were, "who is that great guitarist?" Turns out it was actually two. Before that, I had never heard of either Peter Maunu or Joaquin Lievano. The double leads on PUPPETS DANCE still blows me away 24 years later. There is a good blend of energetic jazz fusion blasters and softer beautiful pieces like ETHEREAL MOOD. Like another reviewer, I agree that the bass playing is simply phenomenal, and though I can't remember who played the drum kit on this one, it is top notch also.

While quite different from the larger scale of "Imaginary Voyage", the tunes on this release stand on their own. That is due to Jean Luc giving plenty of room for the other musicians to stretch out and solo, thus not turning it into an album "just about his violin" and nothing else.

For me, this rates 5 stars, but I'm only giving it 4, since I know that with a 5 star rating system, 5 should only be for the albums that are the most timeless (hmmm.....Miles' KINDA BLUE and some of Coltranes best come to mind)and have stood the test of time, to listeners, musicians and critics alike.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hauntingly beautiful and unforgettable, June 20, 2000

By 

"rjgrib" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cosmic Messenger (Audio CD)

This is my favorite JLP and I'd say it's his best effort ever. Not that his other stuff isn't good, it's just that a masterpiece like this is hard to compare to. The sweeping ethereal melodies and jazzy touches blend to produce one of the finest instrumental recordings ever made. This is music that crosses boundaries too. It can be enjoyed by most anyone, and that is a real testimony to a fine product.