Search - Jimmy Ponder :: James Street

Ponder is a master who swings relentlessly

11/03/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A great selection of tunes. Highlights are the title track which is a showcase for Ponder's solo guitar. John Hicks on piano is wonderful throughout. Check out Ponder's octave workout on "Beautiful Friendship" and blues prowess on "September Song". Misleading is "Body and Soul" which is listed as "My One And Only Love". This CD deserves to be heard."

Jimmy Ponder, a wonderful player in the Montgomery tradition

Anders Jonasson | Bankeryd Sweden | 03/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, Ponder is heavily influenced by Montgomery, but still he plays like Jimmy Ponder. In his single lines there is a slight touch of Grant Green especially in the ballad "God Bless the Child" but Ponders sound is close to what Montgomery had around 1960 on the Riverside recordings. Anyway, the entire CD has a nice groove, John Hicks on piano adds a lot to the overall concept, and he swings hard too. Some of the highlights are September Song which has got a very tasty solo by Ponder, and James Street the minor blues which is really "cookin" I have not heard Ponder since the late sixties, and it was a wonderful dicovery to find out that he is still playing."

JIMMY PONDER IS AN ASCENDED MASTER...

douglasnegley | Pittsburgh, Pa. United States | 09/12/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a 5 star CD, relatively speaking, but I get to see this genius on a regular basis, and we have yet to hear the Master-works in band form. My favorite keyboard player with Jimmy is Pittsburgher Howie Alexander, and with Dr. Mike Taylor on bass, and George Heid drumming...well, sometime soon, I hope, I'll be reviewing that fat foursome (no pun intended...Jimmy's endeared nickname is "Fats"). Anyway, to this one: simply listen to the sample "J.P." - this man is alive and still playing! You are hearing something here that may not survive when "Fats" is called Home. Dig it now, dig it a lot - and dig a lot OF it. Anders says everything that needs to be said..."