Jean-Luc Ponty
King Kong - Jean-Luc Ponty Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa

THE REVIEW

Jean-Luc Ponty is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant violinists in the jazz world, and has a brilliant technical ability and improvisation.

Ponty was a very close friend of a brilliant musician, unfortunately passed away 13 years ago, the great Frank Zappa. From their friendship, in 1969 this work was born, in which Zappa, in addition to arranging 4 of his compositions for Ponty, writes one specifically for him and plays a splendid guitar solo in the only piece composed by the French violinist.

The album opens with the title track, which originally appeared on Zappa's album "Uncle Meat", rearranged in a classic jazz version. This version, although very beautiful to listen to and having a fiery solo by Jean-Luc Ponty, cannot compare with Zappa's original version, which in the original lasted a full 18 minutes.
In contrast, the following "The Idiot Bastard Son" represents the album's climax. The track was originally sung, now it is instrumental and rearranged in atmospheres, I dare say, almost "lounge". In addition to Jean-Luc Ponty, this track prominently features saxophonist Ernie Watts, drummer Jon Guerin (unfortunately passed away last February), and keyboardist George Duke. The latter would later make a name for himself by pursuing a very successful solo career and with prestigious collaborations (Frank Zappa, Billy Cobham).

The following "Twenty Small Cigars" would not have appeared on a Zappa album until a year later (specifically on "Chunga's Revenge"), but it had already been recorded. Ponty's version, in my opinion, is very verbose. First of all, it is tackled at a slower pace, and then the solos in this case are very boring. Much better is Ponty’s only composition on the album, titled "How Would You Like To Have A Head like That". It is a cheerful and engaging piece and as mentioned before, it’s also the only one where Zappa plays and does a solo, and what a solo... played very well, and with great taste.
The B-side of the album begins with "Music For Electric Violin And Low Budget Orchestra", the only track that Zappa wrote specifically for this album. The title comes from the fact that Frank intended to have the piece performed by a real orchestra. Unfortunately, due to a lack of money, he had to settle for fewer elements and arrange the piece slightly differently. The orchestra conductor is the great Ian Underwood (who in the rest of the album only plays the tenor sax on the track that gives the album its title), a future collaborator of brilliant musicians like Lee Ritenour. The piece stretches for 19 minutes and alternates from deeply melodic moments to experimental ones, from slow to wild moments. During this long symphonic ride, other themes previously composed by Zappa also appear ("Duke Of Prunes” and "A Pound For A Brown"). Particularly, drummer Arthur Dyer Tripp III is at ease during the piece.

The album concludes with the dancing "America Drinks & Goes Home". In conclusion, the Zappa compositions, although not holding up to the originals (except perhaps "The Idiot Bastard Son"), are arranged in a very pleasant manner, and Jean-Luc Ponty shows us that he is truly a great musician. Recommended especially for jazz lovers and for those (like me) who consider Frank Zappa as the most brilliant and innovative composer in the history of rock!