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review by Michael Debbage I have heard many good things about pianist Clara Ponty and thought it was time to listen for myself what all the fuss was about. From a musical aspect, the raves appear to be justified. Ponty progressively intermingles dashes of jazz and splashes of classical music effortlessly. But, that said, there is a lack of distinct melodies and song structure making the listening experience one that requires a lot of patience. To a certain degree, I can only fault myself for my lack of musical theory to really enjoy this project. Even with the presence of the distinguished violinist Jean Luc Ponty, the father of the artist, this album is about substance over style. As a result the album has required many spins and I have found a few tracks that I really enjoy. Apparently, they are the more stripped down compositions that avoid the more complex movements and tempo changes. The first notable song is "Autumn Bells" that also features Jean-Luc on violin. With open spatial moments, it allows the father and daughter to play off each other. However, the most distinguishable track of the album is "The Paths To Wisdom", which has a tearful melody. Other enjoyable moments are the lamentations of "The Last Romantics" and "Serenity". It is here that Clara certainly showcases her flawless ability to effortlessly run up and down the keys. There is certainly an impeccable level of production and performance values, all done without smoke and mirrors. While I enjoyed some of the material, overall I was unable to find my way through its complexities. For those of you that enjoy intricate progressive musical themes with a touch of jazz and classical themes you will probably take pleasure in this album. |
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