A TASTE FOR PASSION

Dreamy. Ethereal. Beautiful. These are the words that first spring to mind whenever I listen to A Taste for Passion by Jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. Not only is the music incredibly powerful and memorable, but the playing itself is magnificent. Ponty has a way with musical phrasing that allows him to experiment with a myriad of different styles and approaches, yet somehow make it all fit together like a perfectly-cut jigsaw puzzle. One moment you're being swept away by otherworldly, melodious pieces such as ''Stay With Me'' and the album;s title track, and the next minute you may find yourself grooving out to one of the album's Jazz- aimed masterworks such as the wonderful ''Sunset Drive''. There really isn't much to dislike here, unless you want to get picky and say that much too much musical ground is covered. Granted, it may have appealed to more people has the music stayed in one area for the most part, but then we wouldn't have the wonderful, eclectic masterpiece that we have today.

When I was a kid, my father had his vinyl copy of this record playing over the stereo (one of the very few Jazz-oriented albums he had in his massive collection, which otherwise consisted of a fairly even balance of Rock and Classical). I remember even then being quite mesmerized by the effect the music was having on me, so i sought out the album sleeve to learn more for myself. Imagine my surprise when what I discovered was an unshaven, slightly insane-looking man holding an electric violin and posing in a mischievous way. But ever since then, I began to grow more and more curious about the man and his music. Ultimately, I began seeking out his works on my own, and I now regard him as one of the masters of Jazz-Rock. He truly pushes music forward in a way few others seem capable of, and I never tire of his majority of work. Always something new and interesting to say via his musical genius, and this album is no exception. I think you're robbing yourself of one of the most special musical experiences of your life as long as this album remains out of your possession. It's one of Jean-Luc's best, and an absolute no-brainer as a place to start for newcomers.

4.5 Stars. May not be everyone's favorite Ponty album, but especially for newbies, I cannot recommend it enough.