Customer Reviews

Rite of Strings

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been a long-time fan of both Al DiMeola and Jean-Luc Ponty though I didn't know much about Stanley Clarke beyond his glowing reputation.So when the "Rite of Strings" tour paid a visit to San Antonio, I was interested in seeing how the three would work together.Very well, as it turned out and of course they played music from their eponymous album as well as a few extra songs giving each of them a chance to individually shine.I bought the CD at the concert and was very pleased upon listening to it. There is something here for fans of each musician. My favorites are Indigo, which is unabashedly DiMeola, Song for John, a Clarke/Corea composition which is incredibly mellow and relaxing, and Memory Canyon, which has Ponty written all over it. There is no song on the album I don't like but I do wish that Al would have chosen something other than the Chilean Pipe Song, one of the weaker songs from his Orange and Blue CD.I'd rate this a winner as I came away with a higher regard for the musicianship of each of the bandmembers.

All three of these musicians have mellowed over the years. They've proven their chops are pretty much unsurpassed in the industry already, but here they showcase their compositional skills and prove that they can play with passion.

My favorites are Indigo, Chilean Pipe Song, and Topanga but every song here is at least good.

With players like DiMeola, Ponty & Clarke, what do you get?...musical harmony. This collaboration may disappoint some jazz connoisseurs. I believe with the 3 top caliber in the field of Fusion they expect to get more. This album features DiMeola's signature strumming (Flamenco/Brazilian style) and at times shred. Violin solos & passages fr Ponty, & Clarke's thrumming bass (Clarke is amazingly fast on bass). This album is an excellent variation to your collection of instrumental jazz. Grab it!!

This album shows some great interplay among the three musicians. There's an increased rhythmic quality of the guitar, bass, and violin due to a lack of a percussion instrument. This actually adds to the clarity and a more mutable rhythum in each other's stringed instruments. Most of the songs are well above average and showcase a fusion that is less cheesy and plastic sounding than many of the contemporaries. However, one thing that almost causes me to turn this cd off is the (...) 80's MIDI sound that Al Dimeola uses. MIDI only serves as a corny sounding crutch to add more depth to the music. It's end up taking away from the music. I hope MIDI or other technological crutches are done away with...but then again, why are techno, rap, and other drum machine "music" around?

I've been a long-time fan of both Al DiMeola and Jean-Luc Ponty though I didn't know much about Stanley Clarke beyond his glowing reputation.So when the "Rite of Strings" tour paid a visit to San Antonio, I was interested in seeing how the three would work together.Very well, as it turned out and of course they played music from their eponymous album as well as a few extra songs giving each of them a chance to individually shine.I bought the CD at the concert and was very pleased upon listening to it. There is something here for fans of each musician. My favorites are Indigo, which is unabashedly DiMeola, Song to John, a Clarke/Corea composition which is incredibly mellow and relaxing, and Memory Canyon, which has Ponty written all over it. There is no song on the album I don't like but I do wish that Al would have chosen something other than the Chilean Pipe Song, one of the weaker songs from his Orange and Blue CD.I'd rate this a winner as I came away with a higher regard for the musicianship of each of the bandmembers.

Sublime encounter by 3 of the finest musicians on their individual instruments. Each of the artists contributed 3 songs to the CD. My favorite is Renaissance which was penned by Ponty. Most jazz aficionadas are familiar with the work of these artists and their individual paths. While each has spent considerable time in the fusion side of jazz, their intersection on this CD makes me wish they spent more time on "unplugged". Ponty's playing here reminds me of my favorite previous CD of his "King Kong" in which he played the music of Frank Zappa. Clarke is brilliant regardless of the idiom although I prefer his early acoustic work with RTF. My biggest pleasure here is listening to DiMeola. I enjoyed his work with RTF and this mini reunion here brings together one half of RTF. His inspired playing convinces me that he is a great electric guitarist but a truly legendary acoustic player (Check out Friday Night in San Francisco with McLaughlin and DeLucia...) I highly recommend this CD.....

Extraordinary! The sound, rhythm, acoustics, come together to make a wonderfully exotic sound which has been the hall mark of these gifted musicians. Upbeat and seductive this CD will delight any Clarke, DiMeola, or Ponty fan. My favorite is cut 1 Indigo.

I was lucky enough to see them in concert back in 1996 When the CD was recorded. I'm a member of The PA National Guard stationed in Iraq and the CD is a great addition to my collection. My home is in Philadelphia, PA where Stanley Clark grow up, I've always been a fan. I also a fan of both AL,Jean. To have a three of them togather is such a treat and they play some classics as well as new stuff. I very happy with this recording I down loaded it on to my Ipod, it's great for working out.
If you are a fan of ither one of them you will love it

I probably didn't need to buy the whole CD but after I'd heard Renaissance, I was curious. could it all be that good? But no, I'm not crazy about most of the album.

Here are three musicians known primarily for playing amplified instruments in fusion bands, but on The Rite of Strings they stick to acoustic instruments. Unfortunately, all three seem to be playing acoustic instruments with pickups that are wired right into the mixer, so this is not an acoustic album in the sense of making you feel as they are playing in a room, but at least we get to hear Stanley Clarke on the standup bass, which is always a treat, and Ponty is in excellent form on violin. Although the music itself seems to lack inspiration, at least to these ears, it is never less than entertaining, and the playing is smooth and clean, as is the sound.