Jimmy Ponder • So Many Stars

 

Soul-Jazz guitarist Jimmy Ponder was well known to serious jazz lovers for his recordings as a leader and appearances as a sideman on 80 albums. His unique bluesy sound, which incorporated Wes Montgomery's approach of playing octaves with the thumb, has influenced other guitarists.

Ponder's playing was described as aggressive rhythm-and-blues figurations with swift and lucid chromatic bop lines. Jimmy released 21 albums since 1969 as a leader on the Muse, Highnote, Cadet, Explore, and LRC labels. He reached the Billboard Top Jazz Album charts with his best selling releases Ain’t Misbehavin’ at #16 in 2000 and All Things Beautiful at #38 in 1978.

Ponder began his national career playing with fiery organist Charles Earland and saxophonist’s Lou Donaldson soul-jazz ensembles. As an in demand sideman Ponder recorded with Etta Jones, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Jimmy McGriff, Donald Byrd, Ray Bryant, Stanley Turrentine, B.J. Thomas, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Irene Reid, and others. He performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Stanley Turrentine, Groove Holmes, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, Hank Crawford, Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, and Sonny Stitt.

Jimmy Ponder, who was born on May 10th 1946 in Pittsburgh, grew up in the Beltzhoover neighborhood and began playing professional at age 11.

Source: Michael Ricci

 Artist Biography by Scott Yanow

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.

Quotes about Jimmy Ponder

“Live at the Other End by Jimmy Ponder is not only engaging for its entire 55 minutes' running time, it's downright dazzling, and not only in technical acumen—which it certainly is—but in its pure singing musicality....is one of the finest solo jazz guitar records in the canon, period." —Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

“When you count up the years and numbers, few if any authentic jazz guitarists have sustained as long, consistent, fruitful or interesting a recording career as Ponder. His many efforts for the Muse and High Note labels have set high standards for musicality with integrity" —Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

“Pittsburgh is a blessed with so many great musicians. Jimmy Ponder continues this great tradition by being one of the finest jazz guitarists in the country." —Tony Mowod producer/jazz host

“One of the great pioneers of the guitar coming out of Pittsburgh — he and George Benson." —Roger Humphries

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El guitarrista de Soul-Jazz Jimmy Ponder era bien conocido por los amantes del jazz por sus grabaciones como líder y sus apariciones como sideman en 80 álbumes. Su sonido único de blues, que incorporaba el enfoque de Wes Montgomery de tocar las octavas con el pulgar, ha influido en otros guitarristas.

El toque de Ponder se describió como figuraciones agresivas de ritmo y azul con líneas de bop cromáticas rápidas y lúcidas. Jimmy lanzó 21 álbumes desde 1969 como líder en los sellos Muse, Highnote, Cadet, Explore y LRC. Llegó a las listas de éxitos de Billboard Top Jazz Album con sus álbumes más vendidos Ain't Misbehavin' en el #16 en 2000 y All Things Beautiful en el #38 en 1978.

Ponder comenzó su carrera nacional tocando con el ardiente organista Charles Earland y los conjuntos de soul-jazz del saxofonista Lou Donaldson. Como sideman solicitado, Ponder grabó con Etta Jones, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Jimmy McGriff, Donald Byrd, Ray Bryant, Stanley Turrentine, B.J. Thomas, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Irene Reid y otros. Actuó con Dizzy Gillespie, Stanley Turrentine, Groove Holmes, la Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, Hank Crawford, Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff y Sonny Stitt.

Jimmy Ponder, que nació el 10 de mayo de 1946 en Pittsburgh, creció en el barrio de Beltzhoover y empezó a tocar profesionalmente a los 11 años.

Fuente: Michael Ricci

 Biografía del artista por Scott Yanow

Un excelente guitarrista con un sonido conmovedor y la capacidad 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 a los 14 años y considera que Wes Montgomery y Kenny Burrell son sus dos principales influencias tempranas y Wes Montgomery más tarde. Ofreció un trabajo con Charles Earland después de haber tocado la guitarra sólo tres años, Ponder esperó hasta que se graduó de la escuela secundaria y luego pasó tres años con el grupo del organista, grabando varias fechas con Earland. Trabajó y grabó con Lou Donaldson, Houston Person, Donald Byrd, Stanley Turrentine y Jimmy McGriff y a principios de los 70 se mudó a Nueva York (desde Filadelfia), liderando sus propios grupos. Desde entonces, Ponder ha grabado como líder en los 70 para Cadet, ABC/Impulse, TK, CBS y Toshiba, en los 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 and Solo: Live at the Other Side, ambos lanzados en 2007.

Citas sobre Jimmy Ponder

"Live at the Other End" de Jimmy Ponder no sólo es atractivo por sus 55 minutos de duración, es totalmente deslumbrante, y no sólo por su perspicacia técnica -que ciertamente lo es- sino por su musicalidad pura de canto.... es uno de los mejores discos de guitarra de jazz en solitario del canon, punto." -Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

"Cuando cuentas los años y los números, pocos, si es que hay algún guitarrista de jazz auténtico, han sostenido una carrera discográfica tan larga, consistente, fructífera o interesante como Ponder. Sus muchos esfuerzos para los sellos Muse y High Note han establecido altos estándares de musicalidad con integridad" -Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

"Pittsburgh es una ciudad bendecida por tantos grandes músicos. Jimmy Ponder continúa esta gran tradición siendo uno de los mejores guitarristas de jazz del país." -Tony Mowod productor/presentador de jazz

"Uno de los grandes pioneros de la guitarra de Pittsburgh, él y George Benson." -Roger Humphries

Tracklist:
A1 - A Clue - 3:34
A2 - Turn - 5:00
A3 - Love Will Find A Way - 3:58
A4 - Chasing That Face - 5:32
B1 - Love Me Right - 5:24
B2 - Sometimes When We Touch - 4:40
B3 - A Trip To The Stars - 6:10


Credits:
    Arranged By, Conductor – Brad Baker
    Backing Vocals – Diva Gray (tracks: A1, A2), Gordon Grody (tracks: A1, A2), Gwen Guthrie (tracks: A1, A2), Jocelyn Brown (tracks: A1, A2)
    Bass – Neil Jason
    Design – Katharine Smith, Bob Heimall
    Drums – Jimmy Young, Richard Crooks
    Engineer – Bob Clearmountain, Don Berman
    Engineer [Assistant] – Ray Willard
    Guitar – Bob Rose, Jeff Mironov, Lance Quinn
    Guitar [Solo] – Jimmy Ponder
    Keyboards – Pat Rebillot, Rob Mounsey
    Percussion – Jimmy Maelen
    Photography By [Back Cover] – John Barrett
    Photography By [Cover] – Pete Turner
    Producer – Sonny Lester
    Saxophone – David Tofani, Eddie Daniels
    Supervised By [Musical] – Lance Quinn
    Trombone – Barry Rogers
    Trumpet – Jon Faddis, Marvin Stamm

Label: Lester Radio Corporation ‎– LRC-9322
Released: 1978
Genre: Jazz
Style: Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Funk

 

 

 

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