Fables is an album by French jazz fusion artist Jean-Luc Ponty, released in 1985.
Background Guitarist Scott Henderson joined Ponty's band for Fables after Allan Holdsworth, who had toured and recorded with Ponty on Enigmatic Ocean and Individual Choice between 1977 and 1983, left the group. According to Henderson, Holdsworth had heard him performing with bassist Jeff Berlin's band, which had opened for Holdsworth's own group, and recommended him to Ponty sight unseen. Henderson's inclusion on Fables, alongside bassist Baron Browne and drummer Rayford Griffin, gave Ponty a full rhythm section in the studio; as AllMusic's Richard S. Ginell later put it, Ponty was "lonely for some company in the studio" and brought in the trio to accompany his violins, keyboards and sequencers.
Reception
AllMusic's Richard S. Ginell noted that "Ponty's sound has opened up considerably", but that he "continues to explore the high-tech, electronic, sequenced ostinato world that he opened the door to on Individual Choice" and that the album is "very even... without any extreme peaks or dips".
Fables is one of several of Ponty's albums that has been acknowledged as an influence on Detroit techno artists. In 2014, DJ Rolando cited it as his favourite album.
Track listing All songs by Jean-Luc Ponty. Adapted from liner notes.
Personnel Jean-Luc Ponty – Zeta & Barcus-Berry electric violins, Prophet-5 & Synclavier synthesizers, electronic percussion, vocals Scott Henderson – electric guitar (tracks 1–5)
Baron Browne – electric bass (tracks 1–5) Rayford Griffin – drums, percussion (tracks 1–5)
Production Jean-Luc Ponty – producer David Ahlert – engineer David Eaton – engineer Dan Garcia – engineer Cliff Jones – engineer Peter R. Kelsey – engineer
Charts YearChartPosition1985Billboard Jazz Albums9Billboard 200166
References
External links Jean-Luc Ponty - Fables at Discogs Jean-Luc Ponty - Fables at ProgArchives.com