Jean-Luc Ponty is a pioneer and undisputed master of violin in the
arena of jazz and rock. He is widely regarded as an innovator who has
applied his unique visionary spin that has expanded the vocabulary of
modern music.Ponty was born in a family of classical musicians on September 29, 1942 in Avranches, France. His father taught violin, his mother taught piano. At sixteen, he was admitted to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, graduating two years later with the institution's highest award, Premier Prix. In turn, he was immediately hired by one of the major symphony orchestras, Concerts Lamoureux, where he played for three years.
While still a member of the orchestra in Paris, Ponty picked up a side gig playing clarinet (which his father had taught him) for a college jazz band that regularly performed at local parties. It proved a life-changing jumping-off point. A growing interest in the jazz sounds of Miles Davis and John Coltrane compelled him to take up the tenor saxophone. Fueled by an all-encompassing creative passion, Jean-Luc soon felt the need to express his jazz voice through his main instrument, the violin.
Jean Luc Ponty Band 2017 US tour dates:
May 30 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
May 31 – Seattle, WA – The Neptune
June 01 – Eugene, OR – John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts
June 03 – Los Angeles, CA – The Saban Theater Beverly Hills
June 04 – San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom
June 05 – Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theatre
June 07 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – The Coach House
June 08 – Agoura Hills, CA – The Canyon
June 09 – Scottsdale, AZ – Center For the Arts
June 10 – Las Vegas, NV – Allante Casino
June 14 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
June 16 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
June 17 – Austin, TX – One World Theatre
June 20 – Chicago, IL – City Winery
June 21 – Detroit, MI – Chene Park
June 23 – Niagara Falls, NY – Seneca Niagara Casino
June 24 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Performing Arts Center
June 25 – NYC – B.B. King