Jimmy Ponder • Guitar Christmas

Review by Bradley Torreano

Jazz guitarist Jimmy Ponder attempts to take on several holiday standards on Guitar Christmas. His smooth, light approach is a nice touch, making these songs flow without overloading them with flashy playing. His rendition of Mel Tormé's "Christmas Song" may be the best song on the album, a low-key version that emphasizes the heartfelt sentiment of the original. There are a few other good renditions, but the problem arises that many of these songs are quite long. Despite the classy approach to the material, songs like "Merry Christmas, Baby" do not maintain the listener's interest for seven minutes. Ponder is a fantastic guitarist, and this album is something that guitar jazz fans may really like, but unfortunately it will probably not translate to the average listener.

Biography

An excellent guitarist with a soulful sound and the ability to uplift any funky jazz date, Jimmy Ponder has appeared on many recordings during his long career, over 80 as a sideman and 15 as a leader. Ponder began playing guitar when he was 14 and considers Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell to be his two main early influences and Wes Montgomery later on. Offered a job with Charles Earland after having only played guitar three years, Ponder waited until he graduated from high school and then spent three years with the organist's group, recording several dates with Earland. He worked and recording with Lou Donaldson, Houston Person, Donald Byrd, Stanley Turrentine, and Jimmy McGriff and in the early '70s moved to New York (from Philadelphia), leading his own groups. Ponder has since recorded as a leader in the 1970s for Cadet, ABC/Impulse, TK, CBS, and Toshiba, in the '80s for Milestone, and in the '90s for Muse and HighNote. In the 21st century his albums included Ain't Misbehavin' (2000), Thumbs Up (2001), Alone (2003), What's New (2005), and Somebody's Child and Solo: Live at the Other Side, both released in 2007.

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Reseña de Bradley Torreano

El guitarrista de jazz Jimmy Ponder intenta tomar varios estándares navideños en Guitar Christmas. Su enfoque suave y ligero es un buen toque, haciendo que estas canciones fluyan sin sobrecargarlas con un toque llamativo. Su interpretación de la "Canción de Navidad" de Mel Tormé puede ser la mejor canción del álbum, una versión discreta que enfatiza el sentimiento sincero del original. Hay algunas otras buenas interpretaciones, pero el problema es que muchas de estas canciones son bastante largas. A pesar del enfoque elegante del material, canciones como "Feliz Navidad, Bebé" no mantienen el interés del oyente durante siete minutos. Ponder es un guitarrista fantástico, y este álbum es algo que a los aficionados al jazz de guitarra les puede gustar mucho, pero desafortunadamente probablemente no se traducirá al oyente medio.

Biografía

Un excelente guitarrista con un sonido conmovedor y la habilidad de elevar cualquier fecha de jazz funky, Jimmy Ponder ha aparecido en muchas grabaciones durante su larga carrera, más de 80 como sideman y 15 como líder. Ponder comenzó a tocar la guitarra cuando tenía 14 años y considera a Wes Montgomery y Kenny Burrell como sus dos primeras influencias principales y a Wes Montgomery más tarde. Ofreció un trabajo con Charles Earland después de sólo haber tocado la guitarra durante tres años, Ponder esperó hasta graduarse de la escuela secundaria y luego pasó tres años con el grupo del organista, grabando varias citas con Earland. Trabajó y grabó con Lou Donaldson, Houston Person, Donald Byrd, Stanley Turrentine y Jimmy McGriff y a principios de los años 70 se mudó a Nueva York (desde Filadelfia), dirigiendo sus propios grupos. Desde entonces, Ponder ha grabado como líder en los años 70 para Cadet, ABC/Impulse, TK, CBS y Toshiba, en los años 80 para Milestone y en los 90 para Muse y HighNote. En el siglo XXI sus álbumes incluyeron Ain't Misbehavin' (2000), Thumbs Up (2001), Alone (2003), What's New (2005), y Somebody's Child y Solo: Live at the Other Side, ambos publicados en 2007.

Colaborador / Contribuitor:  Michel


Tracklist:
1 - Jingle Bells - 6:12
2 - Frosty The Snow Man - 4:47
3 - Do You Hear What I Hear? - 4:51
4 - Silent Night - 5:23
5 - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - 6:20
6 - We Three Kings - 6:23
7 - Merry Christmas Baby - 7:41
8 - All I Want For Christmas Is You - 2:52
9 - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) - 2:41


Credits:
    Bass – Dwayne Dolphin
    Drums – Cecil Brooks III
    Guitar – Jimmy Ponder
    Piano – John Hicks
    Tenor Saxophone – Don Braden


Label: HighNote Records, Inc. ‎– HCD7034
Released: 1998
Genre: Jazz 

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