Jean-Luc Ponty

Jean-Luc Ponty (born September 29, 1942) is a versatile French violinist and jazz composer.

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Born in Avranches, France, he was trained as a professional classical violinist at the Paris Conservatory. His attraction to jazz was propelled by Miles Davis's and John Coltrane's music.

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He has worked with St?phane Grappelli, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Frank Zappa, and has appeared on over seventy recordings.

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In 1977 he pioneered the use of the 5-string electric violin, with a lower C string. He sometimes also uses a 6-string electric violin called the Violectra, with low C and F strings ? not to be confused with the violectra he played from the late 1960s to the mid-80s which had 4 strings, but tuned an octave lower. Ponty was among the first to combine the violin with MIDI, distortion boxes, phase shifters, and wah-wah pedals. This resulted in his signature, almost synthesizer-like sound.

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September 29: September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years). There are 93 days remaining....

1942: This article is about the year. For the 1984 Capcom arcade game, see 1942 (video game)....

French: French can refer to more than one article:...

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