DVD - The Rite of Strings - Al DiMeola, Jean-Luc Ponty & Stanley Clarke: Live At Montreaux 1994

DVD - The Rite of Strings - Al DiMeola, Jean-Luc Ponty & Stanley Clarke: Live At Montreaux 1994

Running time: 103 minutes
Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and DTS audio
Full screen

(Eagle Rock Entertainment)

Filmed in 1994, this Live At Montreux series DVD gives the viewer a taste of three virtuosos performing material for the first time together as a trio. How would they fare, given the unique dynamics and peculiarities of each performer, in an unrehearsed live session?

During the solo performances of guitarist Al DiMeola in the the first track, "Song To John," the camera closed in on his hands as if to suggest, "See, this is how easy it is." As if! In an extended solo duel between with Stanely Clarke, each leaned in towards the other, exchanging intense but friendly eye contact. Electric violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and DiMeola constantly populated the music with bright, rich and silken notes. Ponty's notes seem almost to sing out on their own, the higher in pitch they climbed. Clarke, head bopping, eyes squinting as if they were squeezing out notes. He plucked his bass frantically, appearing almost as if he was in a trance-like state. This was all in the first track, in which applause erupted as it quieted to a close.

Ponty's solo began with him tapping the strings on his violin with his bow and having it quietly played back over and over again, thanks to the electronics employed. While not revolutionary, it added dimension to his performance and made you wonder, "Is he really playing all that music by himself?" Born in 1942 in Avranches, France, Jean-Luc Ponty, came from a family of classical musicians. He began his career as a classical player, often playing jazz late at night in the clubs. The violin initially was a tough sell as a jazz instrument, but eventually, he won them over and released his debut solo album at the age of 22. He released 12 consective albums that reached the top 5 in the Billboard jazz charts in the 70s and established himself as a prime touring artist.

Article Author: Triniman

Almost weekly, Triniman catches new movies, and adds one or two CDs to his collection. Due to time constraints, he blogs about only 5% of the CDs, books and DVDs that he purchases. Holed up in the geographic centre of North America, the cultural …

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