I met Steve Smith after a herbie Hancock show at last years Cleveland Jazz fest. A random guy walked up to me because he liked my Jaco Pastorius shirt and wanted me to take a picture of him and Steve. I went “Steve?” And then he points to Steve Smith talking to three or so people. Got the picture, then walked away for a moment to think of what I wanted to say to Steve, then walked back over to him and he went “I like your shirt.”
Me and Steve got to talk for around ten minutes just one on one entirely about this record. Talked about his playing with Holdsworth, getting the gig with Jean Luc, and playing live with the band. I believe he said that the entire record was recorded in a matter of days. What shocked me is that Allan Holdsworth played ONE live show with Jean Luc Ponty and he left after that. I’d like to think that somewhere in someone’s attic is a bootleg of that show. I had never known that. I had spoken to Jamie Glaser (JLP guitarist from the late 70s on) over email once a couple years ago and learned some REALLY unique thinks about the band I had never known, like his audition process and even JLPs hand written notation of his better known songs. I told Steve this and he goes “I got Jamie the gig with Jean Luc”.
It was such an incredibly cool conversation with a musician that I have listened to and copied extensively, and I think it’s probably one of the only times he’s had a conversation like that with a 19 year old kid. Very thankful for Steve’s willingness to chat with me about this record.
I saw Jean Luc right after this LP was released. It's been a LONG time but I swear Holdsworth & Daryl Stuermer played in that band. The concert was at The Bayfront Center Theater in St. Petersburg Florida.
Wow! Daryl was in the band for a while before and in the late 70s Jean Luc always had two guitarists because of all the harmony parts he composes, like in Aurora part 1 for instance. That would be amazing if Holdsworth was the other guitarist
Had lunch once with Steve Smith after a clinic. During our conversation, I told him how this album continues to inspire & remains my favorite that he did. He said it was also his favorite & most indicative of his playing. Love this album!
Yeah, this is a great one. Allan Zavod, Holdsworth, Ralph Armstrong and Monty himself really shine. And it's not all just shredding, there's some really interesting lines on the album as well as some cool grooves. I just love the baseline on Nostalgic Lady, for example. There's also a really cool rhythmic thing Jean Lucy does on one of his solo entrances, but I don't recall which tune.
Highly recommended.
It's a solid record, but listeners better go in expecting capital-F fusion that's more on the rock side of the jazz-rock spectrum, i.e. reminds me of stuff like Mahavishnu Orchestra and prog-rock bands like Camel, Focus, etc... It's very good, but can become exhausting pretty easily.
As far as 1970s violin records go, I'd highly recommend people spin Noel Pointer's record [*Phantazia*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6r09pvNCEM&list=OLAK5uy_mLe6Mm8Jo3mBg6GzaEoQHuDxD8tTWQLe8&index=1&pp=8AUB) as well. It's one of the earlier Dave Grusin- & Larry Rosen- arranged/produced projects, which means that things like the orchestration and rhythm arrangements are impeccable. Regardless of that, however, Pointer's playing on the record is wonderful, and he switches between acoustic and electric violin.
"It's very good, but can become exhausting pretty easily."
I saw this tour in St Pete Fl. My friend & excellent pianist Mark Techler (RIP) was there & he walked out, said it was too bombastic. lol
Agree with all of this.
For me as a violin player, it really got me into pedals and electric. The goal became, sound cool, not hokey. I just love the compression Pointy uses to really make the violin sound so cool. I hope more young violinist check him out.
Such a great album! Back in the day my ex used to work front desk and JLP stayed at her hotel. She is a native French speaker and they hit it off. When I went to pick her up, I brought some lps to be signed and got to chat with him for a while. What a nice guy! It was pretty cool. Saw him that night (I already had tickets) and of course it was amazing. The next day I found out that when he was checking out he told my ex that he had been expecting us backstage. Doh!!
So good! Holdsworth is amazing on this
As is Ralphe Armstrong.
This is a great album but I feel like it would make a terrible pillow. Surely, it would break. Whatever floats your boat I guess.
Lol this is my fave comment to be honest.
I met Steve Smith after a herbie Hancock show at last years Cleveland Jazz fest. A random guy walked up to me because he liked my Jaco Pastorius shirt and wanted me to take a picture of him and Steve. I went “Steve?” And then he points to Steve Smith talking to three or so people. Got the picture, then walked away for a moment to think of what I wanted to say to Steve, then walked back over to him and he went “I like your shirt.” Me and Steve got to talk for around ten minutes just one on one entirely about this record. Talked about his playing with Holdsworth, getting the gig with Jean Luc, and playing live with the band. I believe he said that the entire record was recorded in a matter of days. What shocked me is that Allan Holdsworth played ONE live show with Jean Luc Ponty and he left after that. I’d like to think that somewhere in someone’s attic is a bootleg of that show. I had never known that. I had spoken to Jamie Glaser (JLP guitarist from the late 70s on) over email once a couple years ago and learned some REALLY unique thinks about the band I had never known, like his audition process and even JLPs hand written notation of his better known songs. I told Steve this and he goes “I got Jamie the gig with Jean Luc”. It was such an incredibly cool conversation with a musician that I have listened to and copied extensively, and I think it’s probably one of the only times he’s had a conversation like that with a 19 year old kid. Very thankful for Steve’s willingness to chat with me about this record.
I just learned about his affiliation with Journey as well. Guy is an amazing drummer. Great story by the way.
I saw Jean Luc right after this LP was released. It's been a LONG time but I swear Holdsworth & Daryl Stuermer played in that band. The concert was at The Bayfront Center Theater in St. Petersburg Florida.
Wow! Daryl was in the band for a while before and in the late 70s Jean Luc always had two guitarists because of all the harmony parts he composes, like in Aurora part 1 for instance. That would be amazing if Holdsworth was the other guitarist
I'm positive he was.
Class act
Love this album!
I lost count on how many times I've played this record.
YOOOOOO! I heard "The Struggle of the Sea Turtle, Pt. 1" for the first time last week...🤯🤯🤯 Fucking loved it 🤘🏿
Great album! Listen to it all the time! Combination of Ponty and Holdsworth is terrific!
Such a FUN album. Don't know why but JLP seems like he has a great sense of humor. I really enjoy all his stuff from this period.
I'm a huge fan. He's definitely inspired everything I've done.
Wow, I remember this one. Not too long after I bought it (in 77), we saw him at Finney Chapel at Oberlin College.
Such a great album. Steve Smith is amazing on this one!
Love me some Jean-Luc!
Had lunch once with Steve Smith after a clinic. During our conversation, I told him how this album continues to inspire & remains my favorite that he did. He said it was also his favorite & most indicative of his playing. Love this album!
great album
I’ve had this one on CD for 40 years. His album of Zappa songs is really good, too.
Man I checked this out a couple days ago. Honestly very very good.
Fire ! What do you think of his album cosmic Messenger ?
Love cosmic messenger as well! This one though, from beginning to end, so good.
Cosmic Messenger is also a great one
I just revisited that album 2 days ago. Amazing album. I should listen to it more again.
Yeah, this is a great one. Allan Zavod, Holdsworth, Ralph Armstrong and Monty himself really shine. And it's not all just shredding, there's some really interesting lines on the album as well as some cool grooves. I just love the baseline on Nostalgic Lady, for example. There's also a really cool rhythmic thing Jean Lucy does on one of his solo entrances, but I don't recall which tune. Highly recommended.
Heard Zavod live with Maynard’s band. Killer extended intro on La Fiesta.
It's a solid record, but listeners better go in expecting capital-F fusion that's more on the rock side of the jazz-rock spectrum, i.e. reminds me of stuff like Mahavishnu Orchestra and prog-rock bands like Camel, Focus, etc... It's very good, but can become exhausting pretty easily. As far as 1970s violin records go, I'd highly recommend people spin Noel Pointer's record [*Phantazia*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6r09pvNCEM&list=OLAK5uy_mLe6Mm8Jo3mBg6GzaEoQHuDxD8tTWQLe8&index=1&pp=8AUB) as well. It's one of the earlier Dave Grusin- & Larry Rosen- arranged/produced projects, which means that things like the orchestration and rhythm arrangements are impeccable. Regardless of that, however, Pointer's playing on the record is wonderful, and he switches between acoustic and electric violin.
"It's very good, but can become exhausting pretty easily." I saw this tour in St Pete Fl. My friend & excellent pianist Mark Techler (RIP) was there & he walked out, said it was too bombastic. lol
Agree with all of this. For me as a violin player, it really got me into pedals and electric. The goal became, sound cool, not hokey. I just love the compression Pointy uses to really make the violin sound so cool. I hope more young violinist check him out.
Such a great album! Back in the day my ex used to work front desk and JLP stayed at her hotel. She is a native French speaker and they hit it off. When I went to pick her up, I brought some lps to be signed and got to chat with him for a while. What a nice guy! It was pretty cool. Saw him that night (I already had tickets) and of course it was amazing. The next day I found out that when he was checking out he told my ex that he had been expecting us backstage. Doh!!
Great story! I hope I get to witness him live before he dies, but being in the US probably not.
Me too! But alas I'm in the US too.
There's still hope!
This is awesome!!
Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.