Enigmatic Ocean Explained

Enigmatic Ocean
Type:	studio
Artist:	Jean-Luc Ponty
Cover:	Enigmatic_Ocean.jpg
Released:	September 1, 1977
Recorded:	June – July 1977
Studio:	Kendun Studios (Burbank, California)
Genre:	Jazz fusion, jazz-rock
Length:	40:27
Label:	Atlantic Records
Producer:	Jean-Luc Ponty
Prev Title:	Imaginary Voyage
Prev Year:	1976
Next Title:	Cosmic Messenger
Next Year:	1978

Enigmatic Ocean is a studio album by French jazz fusion artist Jean-Luc Ponty, released in 1977.^[1] It features guitarists Allan Holdsworth and Daryl Stuermer, keyboardist Allan Zavod, bassist Ralphe Armstrong (with whom Ponty had played in Mahavishnu Orchestra), and drummer Steve Smith. It reached #1 on the Billboard Jazz album chart in 1977.

Track listing

All music composed, orchestrated and conducted by Jean-Luc Ponty (from the original album cover).

1. "Overture" – 0:47
2. "The Trans-Love Express" – 3:59
3. "Mirage" – 4:53
4. "Enigmatic Ocean - Part I" – 2:23
5. "Enigmatic Ocean - Part II" – 3:35
6. "Enigmatic Ocean - Part III" – 3:42
7. "Enigmatic Ocean - Part IV" – 2:26
8. "Nostalgic Lady" – 5:24
9. "The Struggle of the Turtle to the Sea - Part I" – 3:35
10. "The Struggle of the Turtle to the Sea - Part II" – 3:34
11. "The Struggle of the Turtle to the Sea - Part III" – 6:03

Personnel

• Jean-Luc Ponty – electric violin, five-string electric violin, violectra, bells; grand piano on "Nostalgic Lady"
• Allan Holdsworth – lead electric guitar
• Daryl Stuermer – lead & rhythm electric guitar
• Allan Zavod – organ, synthesizer, electric piano, grand piano, Hohner clavinet
• Ralphe Armstrong – electric basses, fretless bass
• Steve Smith – drums and percussion

Solos

• (2) : JL Ponty (violin) & D. Stuermer (guitar)
• (3) : JL Ponty (violin) & A. Zavod (synthesizer)
• (5) : JL Ponty (violin), D. Stuermer (guitar), A. Zavod (synthesizer) & A. Holdsworth (guitar)
• (6) : A. Holdsworth (guitar) & JL Ponty (violin)
• (8) : JL Ponty (violin) & A. Holdsworth (guitar)
• (9) : A. Zavod (synthesizer)
• (10) : JL Ponty (violectra)
• (11) : R. Armstrong (bass straight and with devices), D. Stuermer (guitar), S. Smith (drums) & A. Holdsworth (guitar)

Production

• Producer: Jean-Luc Ponty
• Engineer: Larry Hirsch
• Tape handler technician: Mitch Gibson
• Mastered by John Golden
• Front cover photography by Andy Kent
• Liner photography by Frank Moscati

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1977	Billboard Jazz Albums	1
	Billboard Pop Albums^[2]	35

External links

• Jean-Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean (1977) album releases & credits at Discogs
• Jean-Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean (1977) album credits & user reviews at ProgArchives.com

Notes and References

1. News: McGrath . Paul . Jean-Luc Ponty . The Globe and Mail . 14 Dec 1977 . F2.
2. Web site: Cabison . Rosalie . 2013-01-02 . Billboard 200™ . 2024-06-15 . Billboard . en-US.