The Atacama Experience
Occupation
- Violin, keyboards, synthesizers: Jean -Luc Ponty
- Piano, Keyboards: William Lecomte
- Bass: Guy Nsangué Akwa
- Drums: Thierry Arpino
- Guitar: Allan Holdsworth
- Guitar: Philip Catherine
- Percussion: Taffa Cissé
The Atacama Experience is an album by French jazz musician Jean -Luc Ponty, released in May 2007. The title refers to the Atacama Desert on the Pacific coast of South America, who visited Ponty after a concert in Santiago de Chile. In addition to long -standing members of Ponty's band, the guitarist Allan Holdsworth and Philip Catherine play as a guest musician.
Background
The album was recorded between January 2006 and February 2007, while Ponty and his band toured several continents. Is accompanied Ponty et al by keyboardist William Lecomte, part of the band since 1999. Also the bassist Guy Nsangué Akwa heard of the band since 1991.
The album begins with a recording of the Parisian street noise. In the piece "Desert Crossing" is the first piece that has ever taken Ponty unaccompanied.
Achievements
The album reached # 24 on the Billboard 's Top Jazz Albums chart, as the first of Ponty's albums since 1997 ( Live at Chene Park ). It was Ponty's first studio album in six years.
Reception
The album was recorded mostly positive critical acclaim. Michael G. Nastos awarded four out of five stars and remarked in Review at Allmusic: ... this recording is not only a welcome change of pace, but a return to the great music that made Ponty to an important personality in contemporary music. This ( album ) you can recommend them without hesitation, and it is the best performance of the brilliant violinist in nearly 30 years. John Kelman wrote in All About Jazz: ... a welcome return to form. Through and through engaging, it has the sustainable compositional depth and distinctive solo skills were given the name of Ponty's life, even in the years when he was not in the public eye.
Title list
All pieces by Jean -Luc Ponty, unless otherwise noted