Jean-Luc PONTY

Fables

(1985)

1. Infinite Pursuit 6'02
2. Elephants In Love 5'23
3. Radioactive Legacy 6'20
4. Cats Tales 4'56
5. Perpetual Rondo 4'48
6. In The Kindom Of Peace 4'07
7. Plastic Idols 3'59

Total Time: 35:35

  • Jean-Luc Ponty - Zeta Violin, Barcus-Berry Violin, Synclavier, Synthesizers, Prophet, Sequencer, Electronic Percussion, Effects
  • Scott Henderson - Guitar
  • Baron Browne - Bass
  • Rayford Griffin - Drums

    Produced by Jean-Luc Ponty
    Jean-Luc Ponty - Producer
    Peter R. Kelsey - Recording and Mixing Engineer
    Claudia Ponty - Cover Concept, Titles and Art Direction
    Jonathan Exley - Photography

    All Music Composed and Orchestrated by J.L. Ponty

    Released on September 1985

    Chart Information:

    US Position #166
    US JAZZ ALBUMS Position #9

    Fables is the best of both worlds: the intoxicating electronic patterns of Ponty's last two albums combined with the full-blooded fusion sound of earlier efforts. There are plenty of new faces and sounds this time, from bassist Baron Browne and guitarist Scott Henderson to the addition of the Synclavier in Ponty's arsenal.
    The songs are top shelf; there isn't an uninteresting or unengaging one in the batch. The sly movement of "Perpetual Rondo", the exotic "Elephants In Love", the dynamic "Radioactive Legacy" are all beautiful to behold. Things get off the ground quickly with "Infinite Pursuit", the obvious offspring of a song like "Open Mind". But where that album seemed mechanical, Fables is a living, breathing organism, with much of the credit going to the tactile rhythms of Browne and Rayford Griffin. (Henderson, despite one solo, is just as invisible in the mix as most of Ponty's guitarists.)
    The album ends with a pair of solo pieces, the humid "In The Kingdom Of Peace" and the sexy "Plastic Idols". They're not on a par with the preceding tunes, but Ponty apparently had mixed feelings about abandoning the "solo" phase of his career. As many critics have pointed out, Ponty's ATLANTIC albums are essentially slices of the same cake; some pieces have more icing, some are more substantial. Fables is a better mix of sweetness and substance than most, likely to please fusion fans as well as those who appreciate new age atmospherics. Note that the record runs on the short side, so it's more conducive to a meditative nap than a long journey (i.e., more hare than tortoise).