Anderson Ponty Band: Better Late Than Never

DETAIL ALBUM

Tracks:

1. Intro
   
2. One in the Rhythms of Hope
3. A For Aria
4. Owner of a Lonely Heart
5. Listening With Me
6. Time and A Word
7. Infinite Mirage
8. Soul Eternal
9. Wonderous Stories
10. Renaissance of the Sun
11. Roundabout
12. Roundabout
13. I See You Messenger
14. New New World

Platenlabel
Ear-Music

Labelnummer
Promo-CD

Distribute
V2 Records Benelux

Website Artiest
Anderson Ponty Band
Jon Anderson
Jean-Luc Pony

"Can't repeat the past?... why of course you can!" - F. Scott Fitzgerald - "The Great Gatsby"
Driving back to San Francisco recently from a languid day trip to Big Sur, l finally decided that the time was optimal to listen to my download of the much anticipated new CD by legendary Yes singer songwriter, Jon Anderson and violin virtuoso Jean Luc Ponty (famed for his solo albums and early work with Frank Zappa and Mahavishnu Orchestra). The Anderson Ponty Band previewed the project for Kickstarter backers three weeks before the general release. Hopelessly techno-challenged, I besieged my husband for two days for help with backing up the coveted files.
As we weaved around the bucolic Coast Highway, my mind was blown by the symmetry achieved through the pairing of these two legendary talents. "Better Late Than Never" is the aptly titled eventual product of a chance meeting in the 80's of the two Atlantic label mates. Taken from a live showcase at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, the finished project retains the energy and rawness of a live show refined by a modicum of editing in the studio. The undertaking, which was launched in July of last year had a rather circuitous journey to its completion. One hurdle was overcome when scheduling conflicts prevented guitarist Jamie Dunlap (a Ponty alumni) who originally played at Wheeler to appear on the finished project. Jamie Glaser, also of Ponty fame redid all the guitar work which appears to have been seamlessly inserted.
This collaboration, which I will see in San Francisco at the Regency Ballroom on November 17th, in particular brings me full circle back to my youth. How will watching such icons of the 70's in concert together affect me now that I am in my mid fifties with so much life under my belt? Still, the music continually caused my thoughts to journey back to my own "Almost Famous" era at a Jean Luc Ponty concert I was reviewing for a Sacramento newspaper 37 years ago when I was just 17. Richard, my future husband, although an avid fan of the band was detained by security while I witnessed the soundcheck and interviewed the bass player. I apprehensively informed my eager interview subject that I regretfully could not accept his invitation to join him later, as I had a rather serious relationship going with the nervous lanky eighteen year old on the other side of the stage door of the formidable Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. In fact, prior to being sent on this assignment, I had to bone up on Mr. Ponty's recordings via Richard's home-recorded cassettes (which usually served as background music for make-out sessions)-but I digress.
I mean, I was a Yesfan, like so many "square pegs" of my era who gleaned spiritual insight by earnestly deciphering Jon Anderson's cryptic, cosmic lyrics. 20 minute “songs” about birth, death, rebirth, and The Revealing Science of God issued from the speakers of my brand new Kmart SoundDesign stereo system complete with eight track!
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day and satisfied I'm on my way shouted so many times (the day I found out I'd passed the GED test allowing me to legally escape high school where I was regularly denigrated) that the lyrics became my language; a doxology and salvation. Listening to Yes music was to become such a revered ritual and even achieve in our minds that which much of Progressive rock did: it superseded (or augmented) our parents' religion-which brings us to the present.
It occurred to me that with this coupling, both artists injected a perceptible added element of joy into the other’s foundational work with respect and space (not unlike Richard and me). This work enables the classics to "breathe" in new, earthy, jazz infused arrangements framed with Ponty's fluid, dancing violin and Anderson's lilting poignancy. Re-imagined versions of Yes songs, Ponty classics with newly created lyrics by Jon Anderson, and a few new numbers are offered. Anderson, who initiated the pairing has managed in one Kickstarter backed album to realize what the recent incarnations of Yes have struggled to do: bring back the life force and cosmic brilliance that infused so much of their seminal work.
As with many Yes (Firebird Suite) and Jon Anderson solo projects, the album opens with an instrumental piece which serves as an overture. "A For Aria", features Ponty's graceful runs and is evocative of moments of "Nous Somme Du Soleil" as well as much of other early 70's era Yes.
"And You and I, the quintessential Yes tour de force is given a pared down treatment with delicate piano by keyboardist Wally Minko which evokes a theme of time slipping away on this earthly journey. The added emphasis on the word "they" in the line: 'They won't tell you...' seems to be Anderson's advice as an elder statesman (who has maybe endured decades of betrayal by the business of music) to trust only one's inner voice. A sad resoluteness rather than ethereal discovery is conveyed especially with the lack of an embellished finish. I didn't want it to end and was unnerved when it did so rather abruptly.
"Time and a Word," the title track of their second album (which he supposedly wrote as an anthem after hearing "Hey Jude" for the first time) receives an inspired reworking with reggae which comes off surprisingly well. Anderson's opening with a tale of a visit to Jamaica which he doesn't remember much of except that it was "Fine in '69!," chants of "Bob Marley!" and the chorus of "She Loves You" for good measure could have ended up being corny and cringe-worthy. But, the spirit of the lyrics match the exuberant arrangement and Anderson's joyous performance. "Roundabout" is as energetic as the original version with Ponty's electric violin taking the lead role that guitarist Steve Howe would normally play and an organ suggesting a hint of very early Yes. Anderson's vocals complete with scatting are crisp and layered on this, especially considering his respiratory illness of recent years. However, "Wonderous Stories" belies a vulnerability and fragility due to a slightly labored vocal. A spirited "Owner of a Lonely Heart," remains pretty faithful to the original with the exception of an exciting solo by drummer Rayford Griffin in the break.
"Infinite Mirage" re-imagines the iconic "Mirage" from Jean Luc Ponty's 1977 number one hit album, "Enigmatic Ocean." Anderson's expository writing matches the piece's trademark serenity. "Listening With Me" is based on "Stay With Me" from 1979's "A Taste For Passion" and claims "So how we do forget the making of the mystic world and the making of the perfect life." In the sensual "Renaissance of the Sun" ("Renaissance" from "Aurora") Anderson sings "How you mesmerize and magnify with the power of your love." Needless to say, once upon a time, this trio of trademark Jean Luc Ponty numbers served as the soundtrack to a teenaged romantic life. This album will be like manna from heaven for people my age who will recognize that their life journey and acquiescence of maturity (however painful) is in a sense mirrored by the themes and the treatment that Better Late Than Never" gives to these classics. This obvious labor of love offers (in an age of so much disposable music) both the structure and vision of the best of classic Yes and even Mahavishnu Orchestra.
New songs such as "I See You, Messenger" feature guitarist Jamie Glaser's dexterity and background vocals. "Soul Eternal," which Anderson previously performed with jazz rock fusion band Azigza delivers a jubilant flight of swinging world music and searing violin.
Now, this is grownup Yes for those of us who have been imprinted with the growth of our children, the death of our parents, and the indelicate march of time.
As harmonic interplay filled the car, I realized I'd missed the energy that writing implants in me. Tonight, I made a decision to write a new review. Ah, fusion.
For more information and forthcoming tour dates visit the official AndersonPonty Band website: http://www.andersonpontyband1.com/

Antoinette Stern