ProJazz.net

No Absolute Time is an album by French jazz fusion artist Jean-Luc Ponty, released in 1993. It marks his return to the Atlantic label.

“A switch back to Atlantic finds Jean-Luc Ponty continuing to dabble in West African waters while re-establishing his earlier solid base in repeating sequenced patterns. The electronics are back, for Ponty splits his time between the electric violin and various synthesizers and sequencers while Abdou M’Boup and Sydney Thiam add African percussion, which often takes a back seat to the electronics as the rhythmic basis for the music. This time, though, the material Ponty has composed isn’t as compelling as it had been in the past; at times, Ponty sounds like he is very competently treading water (though “Blue Mambo” has a compelling groove). Yet despite all of the changes Ponty has put himself through, his music still has a Continental elegance that cannot be mistaken for that of anyone else.” – Richard S. Ginell/AllMusic.

Track listing:
All songs by Jean-Luc Ponty.

“No Absolute Time” – 5:42
“Savannah” – 9:18
“Lost Illusions” – 5:03
“Dance of the Spirits” – 4:59
“Forever Together” – 5:46
“Caracas” – 3:53
“The African Spirit” – 4:58
“Speak Out” – 6:23
“Blue Mambo” – 6:12
“The Child in You” – 4:33

Personnel:
Jean-Luc Ponty – violin, keyboards, electric violin and viola, synthesizer
Martin Atangana – guitar
Kevin Eubanks – guitar (on “Blue Mambo”)
Guy N’Sangue – bass, sound effects
Moustapha Cisse – percussion
Kémo Kouyaté – harp, background vocals, Balafon, Kora
Abdou M’Boup – percussion, drums, sound effects, tambourine, bells, shaker, cowbell, bougarabou drums
Mokhtar Samba – percussion, drums, timbales, cowbell, doundoumba, bougarabou drums
Sydney Thiam – percussion, sound effects, bells, shaker, doundoumba
Wally Minko – piano, keyboards

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Released: July 19, 1993
Recorded: December 1992 – March 1993
Studio: Davout Studios, Paris, France, Westlake Studios, Los Angeles, Home Studio, Santa Monica, CA
Length: 56:53
Label: Atlantic
Producer: Jean-Luc Ponty