Jimmy Ponder • Somebody's Child

The jazz world is full of unsung legends that generally fly under the radar of mainstream attention. One such legend is Pittsburgh native and guitarist extraordinaire Jimmy Ponder, who has been recording soulful, swinging jazz for four decades strong as both a leader and sideman. Somebody's Child, his latest in a string of successful releases for High Note Records, finds the thumb wielding master grooving strong on a diverse set of ballads, blues and straight ahead classics.

With his signature sound and bluesy, bop inspired lines, Ponder traverses familiar terrain on his own compositions "Kickin' Da Bobo and the title track. On the latter, a pensive, lyrical ballad heard in two separate versions, Ponder encompasses the essence of his unique style: lush chords, soulful single note lines and razor sharp octaves. Woody Shaw's classic "Moontrane, a highlight of the session, is a solid display of the guitarist's mastery of intricate harmonies.

Ponder, like his idol Wes Montgomery, plays with his thumb exclusively. Unlike Montgomery, however, Ponder exercises a more aggressive, punchy approach that makes his instrument rattle and hum, creating moments of sheer exuberance, most noticeably on "Too Late Now and "The Creator Has a Master Plan.

Ponder sits front and center quite comfortably with the support of a stellar cast of sidemen. Handpicked by the guitarist, the session's dynamic group of likeminded Pittsburgh stalwarts includes pianists Howard Alexander and Sonny Barbato, bassists Tony De Paolis, Jeff Grubbs and Dr. Mike Taylor, drummers Greg Bandy and George Heid—brother of famed jazz organist Bill Heid, and guitarist Douglas Malone, who accompanies Ponder with the Brazilian violao on "There Will Never Be Another You.

Somebody's Child is a wonderful addition to the recorded legacy of one of the most underrated voices in jazz. There isn't a single note of pretension or gimmickry to be found in Ponder's playing, only honesty, openness and, most importantly, soul.

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/somebodys-child-jimmy-ponder-highnote-records-review-by-john-barron.php

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El mundo del jazz está lleno de leyendas olvidadas que generalmente pasan desapercibidas. Una de esas leyendas es el nativo de Pittsburgh y extraordinario guitarrista Jimmy Ponder, quien ha estado grabando jazz conmovedor y conmovedor durante cuatro décadas como líder y acompañante. Somebody's Child, el último de una serie de exitosos lanzamientos para High Note Records, encuentra al maestro que maneja el pulgar estridentemente fuerte en un diverso conjunto de baladas, blues y clásicos de la canción.

Con su sonido característico y sus líneas inspiradas en el blues y el bop, Ponder atraviesa terreno conocido con sus propias composiciones "Kickin' Da Bobo and the title track". En esta última, una balada pensativa y lírica que se escucha en dos versiones separadas, Ponder abarca la esencia de su estilo único: acordes exuberantes, líneas de nota única conmovedoras y octavas afiladas como una navaja. El clásico de Woody Shaw "Moontrane, un punto culminante de la sesión, es una sólida muestra del dominio del guitarrista de las armonías intrincadas.

Ponder, como su ídolo Wes Montgomery, juega con su pulgar exclusivamente. Sin embargo, a diferencia de Montgomery, Ponder ejerce un enfoque más agresivo y contundente que hace que su instrumento suene y zumbe, creando momentos de pura exuberancia, sobre todo en "Too Late Now" y "The Creator Has a Master Plan".

Ponder se sienta al frente y al centro muy cómodamente con el apoyo de un elenco estelar de sidemen. Escogido por el guitarrista, el dinámico grupo de Pittsburgh de la sesión incluye a los pianistas Howard Alexander y Sonny Barbato, los bajistas Tony De Paolis, Jeff Grubbs y el Dr. Mike Taylor, los bateristas Greg Bandy y George Heid, hermano del afamado organista de jazz Bill Heid, y el guitarrista Douglas Malone, que acompaña a Ponder con el violín brasileño en "There Will Never Be Another You" (Nunca más serás tú).

Somebody's Child es una maravillosa adición al legado grabado de una de las voces más subestimadas del jazz. No hay ni una sola nota de pretensión o truco en el juego de Ponder, sólo honestidad, apertura y, lo más importante, alma.

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/somebodys-child-jimmy-ponder-highnote-records-review-by-john-barron.php

Tracklist:
1 - Kickin' Da Bobo - 4:46
2 - Moontrane - 6:11
3 - Too Late Now - 8:12
4 - Wild Is The Wind - 7:15
5 - Seven Steps To Heaven - 5:12
6 - Somebody's Child - 3:36
7 - Who Will Be The One - 4:58
8 - Somebody's Child Reprise - 3:10
9 - There Will Never Be Another You - 3:30
10 - The Creator Has A Master Plan - 4:38


Credits
    Artwork By – Emi Shirakawa
    Bass – Dr. Mike Taylor, Jeff Grubbs, Tony De Paolis
    Drums, Percussion, Recorded By – George Held, Greg Bandy
    Electric Guitar – Jimmy Ponder
    Executive Producer – Joe Fields
    Guitar, Photography, Recorded By – Douglas Malone
    Liner Notes – Ken Dryden
    Mastered By – Daniel May
    Piano – Howard Alexander, Sonny Barbato


Label: HighNote Records, Inc. ‎– HCD 7165
Released: 2007
Genre: Jazz
Style: Soul-Jazz




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