Ponty in the Archives?

greenback wrote: Most of the fusion that has rock elements should be here: solution, ekseption, brand x, passport, uzeb, bill bruford, allan holdsworth, shadowfax, spaced out, ponty, return to forever, lenny white, ... but, for instance, weather report is more jazz-funk, so arguably it shall not be here. Pat Metheny, despite he uses guitars, shall not be here, because it is more urban jazz.

UZEB  is definitely not prog Niether is Pat Metheny.

Vibrationbaby wrote: I don`t even think the Mahavishnu Orchestra should be included.

Back at the beginning of the 70's we didn't have any problems including early jazz rockers  - Soft Machine, Mahavishnu, RTF -  in the prog music/prog rock genre when these classic  albums were first released - they were progressing rock as well as jazz - it was simple as that. No late 70's/80's, with hindsight creation of an over-complex set of  definitions. So if the music was clearly (thereby hangs the problem)  fusing jazz and rock, (and if come to that rock with blues, rock with folk, rock with the many variants of serious/classical repertoise or form, or  rock with world)  prog music now better known as progressive rock. Check out the prog samplers of the times for evidence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vibrationbaby wrote: The mahavishnu Orchestra attracted rock audiences but was definitely definitely NOT prog. You will notice that in music stores they always are cateloged under JAZZ.

I'm talking about what others are calling the home of prog rock here in the UK not Canada  - and working in a record shop at the time, I known clearly where MO went on the shelves! And I remind you Canned Heat LPs were one of the first and earliest bands to go in the prog music section. Late 60's early 70's, rock fused with any other form of music was progressive!

I found a can of baked beans on a Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup shelf once.

Took hours to figure that one out.

Definatley

I always wondered why he wasnt here. "Final Truth Pt. 1" and "Egocentric Molecules" are some of the most progressive songs Ive ever come across. And all of his guest musicians are superb as well!

Of course yes.

Jean-Luc Ponty made some great progressive albums but although I own some albums and I recently bought the strong DVD Live (Poland 1999), I miss the key element 'rock', it sounds more as a wonderful blend of jazz and symphonic/classic. I rather prefer Jeff Beck with his albums Wired and There and back, to me this is more progrock. But to add Jeff Beck to this site will cause a lot of criticism I think and I won't support it because, like with Jean-Luc Ponty, his progrock period was too short in comparison with his whole musical heritage.

Enigmatic Ocean, Aurora or Very Best of JLPonty are
evidence. Much better progressive fusion than MOST
of the Canterbury inclusion on the archives.
Sorry, but the French were the best at
PROGRESSIVE FUSION! Dont know exactly why but
culturally they were much more naturals! If I had to
fathom a reason I would say it was their love for
American Jazz, European Classical/Folk musics and
an ear for what Canterbury musicians were trying to
accomplish.

Edited by DallasBryan

Jazz-rock is as progressive as it can get! Some artists are better in creating unexpected treasures, Ponty is one of them - as much as I detest his ego....

He has a fine ability to choose remarkable support musicians, too. Ponty is in for sure!

This site is heavily leaning towards Metal. Well, the day when I see "Proto-Metal" as a sub genre included, I'd feel less sidelined...... Until then, let's just enjoy music...?