Enigmatic Ocean

by Jean-Luc Ponty

Enigmatic Ocean cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: September 1977
  • Label: Atlantic
  • Country: France
  • Length: 40:30
  • Community rating: 3.92/5 from 5 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Featuring an extraordinary dual-guitar lineup of Allan Holdsworth and Daryl Stuermer, 'Enigmatic Ocean' is a high-water mark of technical jazz-rock. The French violinist leads the ensemble through sweeping, oceanic soundscapes characterized by virtuosic solos, rapid-fire unison lines, and atmospheric synthesizer backing. The record stands as a defining document of the era's electric jazz movement, perfectly balancing complex compositional architecture with raw improvisational energy.

Genres

Descriptors: Fusion, rhythmic, instrumental, technical, melodic, improvisation

Tracklist

  1. Overture (0:47)
  2. The Trans-Love Express (3:59)
  3. Mirage (4:54)
  4. Enigmatic Ocean, Pt. I (2:23)
  5. Enigmatic Ocean, Pt. II (3:35)
  6. Enigmatic Ocean, Pt. III (3:45)
  7. Enigmatic Ocean, Pt. IV (2:26)
  8. Nostalgic Lady (5:24)
  9. The Struggle of the Turtle to the Sea, Pt. I (3:35)
  10. The Struggle of the Turtle to the Sea, Pt. II (3:34)
  11. The Struggle of the Turtle to the Sea, Pt. III (6:03)

Credits

  • Steve Smith - drums, percussion
  • Ralphe Armstrong - electric bass
  • John Golden - lacquer cut by
  • Allan Holdsworth - lead guitar [lead electric guitar], guitar [solo]
  • Daryl Stuermer - lead guitar, rhythm guitar, guitar [solo]
  • Allan Zavod - organ, synthesizer, electric piano, grand piano, clavinet, synthesizer [solo]
  • Mitch Gibson - tape op [tape handler]

More from Jean-Luc Ponty: full discography