Search - Jimmy Ponder :: Reach a Dream

Dr Lonnie & JP a dynamite duo...6 stars

Anders Jonasson | Bankeryd Sweden | 11/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Taj Fan is right I have also forgotten this one. Sorry...I know that this one is pretty special to Jimmy and one of his favorite recordings.

Jimmys playing is just wonderful and his sound is very clean and balanced and so full of soul and the whole CD is just loaded with groove.Dr Lonnie pushes Jimmy into new heights,,and then he takes over the solos and it is a miracle if the studio where still in one place after this recording.

Pehaps this is the best one that Ponder done..there is no weak tracks on this one and the choice of tunes is just perfect ,a mix of soulful originals and jazzstandards. Sonny Rollins "Ole" is taken in a breathtaking speed..when I heard the first bars I started to wonder..how are they gonna "land" this one,,but no problem,,Ponder plays his ..s of here.

The Interpretation of the tune " At last" (often linked with Etta James) is taken in a soulful latin groove which is just so appealing and hence it is one of the highligts of this CD.

And the blues "Dont BE flat blues" is taken in C..of course (haha)Dr Lonnie shows that he is the master of soulful and hard groovin bluesshuffles.

An extremely pleasant record to listen to. Get it if you can."

WOW - I HAD FORGOTTEN THIS!

a reader in the U.S. | 06/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, sir, I did forget how well Jimmy ate "Ruby" up with ELECTRIC samba. I have yet to hear anyone - ANYONE - else play electrically with this kind of feel. And the rest of the CD shines as brightly. Some may be put off by the 'disco-ish' hi-hat at times, but look past it to what is happening: a great band is forming with Dr. Lonnie Smith and Greg Bandy. And Ponder is simply one of the best, PERIOD. Good luck finding this one."

Anders and Douglas...don't forget this one!

Taj Fan | 02/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Besides the two guys who get it...I want to name this as one of the best Ponder CDs out there. The first cut shows you why Ponder is so highly thought of by his peers (if not yet discovered by the masses); that is not a conga - it is Ponder simulating one by using harmonic overtones over the first 8 bars or so. Listen to his samba interpretation of Ray Charles' "Ruby" for some real mind-boggling electric jazz samba..uh, Douglas..did you forget this one!!?? Dr. Lonnie Smith is superb and he and Ponder make an incredible team of telepaths at times the way they play off of each other. In case anyone (anyone?) thought Ponder was all chords and funk/soul riffs, check out the speed on "Oleo", and Greg Bandy shines by 'playing the melody' in his drum solo, as well as taking it Latin. GREAT CD."