Mirror of Truth

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Classical artists making crossover music are usually sabotaged by a surfeit of technique and an inability to restrain themselves for emotional and musical clarity. Witness any opera singer tackling pop songs. They bludgeon them with virtuosity. That has never been pianist Clara Ponty's problem. A concert-trained pianist, she shifted gears several years ago to create music that revealed her classical background but fell into a new instrumental music netherworld. Recorded after she left New York for her childhood home in France, Mirror of Truth is her first new CD in five years. She's joined on many tracks by her father, renowned fusion violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, recording together for the first time. On tracks like the pensive "Autumn Bells," the violinist colors his daughter's moods like the sun shifting shadows. His solo on "In the Shadow of Stars" is refined elegance, full of reigned-in emotions. Compared to Embrace, Mirror of Truth is under-produced. The occasional percussion sounds like an afterthought and the ambience is more classical than the lush sheen of Embrace. But Clara Ponty's original compositions still linger with a haunted, if not always provocative, allure. --John Diliberto

Mirror of Truth,Clara Ponty,Jlp Productions,New Age,New Age / Meditation,Pop

Mirror of Truth

Tracks:

Glimpses Of Paradise
In Quest Of New Horizons
Mirror Of Truth
Autumn Bells
The Last Romantics
Joyous Awakening
Atlantis
Time To Say Farewell
In the Shadow Of Stars
The Paths To Wisdom
Serenity
The Cry Of the Forest

Average customer rating:

In a Mirror That Lied the Truth
Greenlight Promise
Manufacturer: Greenlight Promise
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAH32G
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Tracks:

Full Circle
And Everything
Mayor of a Small New England Town
Running from Ourselves
Day We Changed the World
After the Sugar
Shining, Welcome Back to the Ground
Surrounded by the Last Long Day
Water Shortage
Save It
In Quiet
Julia
Song Is Worth a Thousand Pictures

Average customer rating:

Wow! Really unique vibe!
Not the first time...
from Solo Piano Publications
Enchanting

Mirror of Truth
Clara Ponty
Manufacturer: Jlp Productions
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Embrace
Clara Ponty

ASIN: B00028HP26
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Tracks:

Glimpses Of Paradise
In Quest Of New Horizons
Mirror Of Truth
Autumn Bells
The Last Romantics
Joyous Awakening
Atlantis
Time To Say Farewell
In The Shadow Of Stars
The Paths To Wisdom
Serenity
The Cry Of The Forest

Amazon.com

Classical artists making crossover music are usually sabotaged by a surfeit of technique and an inability to restrain themselves for emotional and musical clarity. Witness any opera singer tackling pop songs. They bludgeon them with virtuosity. That has never been pianist Clara Ponty's problem. A concert-trained pianist, she shifted gears several years ago to create music that revealed her classical background but fell into a new instrumental music netherworld. Recorded after she left New York for her childhood home in France, Mirror of Truth is her first new CD in five years. She's joined on many tracks by her father, renowned fusion violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, recording together for the first time. On tracks like the pensive "Autumn Bells," the violinist colors his daughter's moods like the sun shifting shadows. His solo on "In the Shadow of Stars" is refined elegance, full of reigned-in emotions. Compared to Embrace, Mirror of Truth is under-produced. The occasional percussion sounds like an afterthought and the ambience is more classical than the lush sheen of Embrace. But Clara Ponty's original compositions still linger with a haunted, if not always provocative, allure. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Wow! Really unique vibe!.......2007-01-18

I like many diverse types of music.But there is something about Clara Pontys music that stands out from the rest of the artists in the classical/new age genre. Beautiful melodies, moving arangements and inspired playing is what you'll find with her music. Cannot say enough good stuff about this c.d.!!!!! Waiting for the next release..robert

Not the first time..........2006-02-05

Sorry, this isn't really a review---5 stars is an educated guess! Just to correct the Amazon review above, this is actually not the first collaboration between JLP and his gifted daughter Clara. On "Storytelling"(1989), Jean-Luc and Clara "jammed" on a Chopin Prelude together. J-L's solo there over Chopin's "changes" is excellent and moving; hard to believe that Chopin didn't include these riffs in his original! Perhaps J-L overdubbed his part over Clara's track, I dunno. At any rate, as a serious fan of JLP for over 30 years, and having enjoyed Clara's previous albums, this collaboration is an exciting prospect indeed, one which I actually wrote in once to Clara's website to suggest! Glad to find out they came through!

from Solo Piano Publications.......2004-09-14

"Mirror of Truth" is pianist/ composer Clara Ponty's long-awaited third release of original compositions, and it is dazzling! A classically-trained pianist who was competing at the international level, Ponty grew up immersed in many musical genres thanks, in large part, to her father, renowned violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. Many artists are able to freely weave in and out of genres, but Clara Ponty's artistry places her in a class by herself. Using her amazing pianistic skills to express deep emotion rather than to impress or show off, the music is complex and multifaceted. This is anything but ear-candy, and the music is meant to be listened to and savored many times with something new to be heard each time. Jean-Luc Ponty appears on eight of the twelve tracks, and acted as co-producer. Other tracks feature Taffa Cisse on percussion, Laurent Cirade on cello, Jeremy Lewis on bass, and Patrick Manouguian on guitar.

The CD opens with "Glimpses of Paradise," which appeared on Ponty's first album as a piano solo. It is now fleshed out with piano, percussion, and synth embellishments that give it more of a jazz flow than the more classical solo version. "In Quest Of New Horizons" is a trio for piano, cello, and violin that has a beautiful searching and mysterious quality. The title track is a quartet that includes percussion and bass. It is a free-flowing piece that feels very improvised. "Autumn Bells" is a much quieter and more subdued duet for piano and violin, and is a favorite. Deeply passionate and a bit dark, this is a real beauty. "The Last Romantics" and "Joyous Awakening" are the only piano solos, and I love `em both. "The Last Romantics" has a tragic quality, and yet there is a sense of hope. "Joyous Awakening" is freer and more improvised. I also really like "Atlantis," which is definitely on the jazz side of the spectrum. Full of energy, Ponty adds her lovely voice as another instrument. "In the Shadow of Stars" is ethereal and floating with the piano providing a sparkling backdrop to a violin improvisation. "Serenity" is a gorgeous duet for piano and acoustic guitar. True to its title, it has a gentle flow and a very peaceful feeling. There is obviously a variety of styles and approaches on this album, but they hold together as a very satisfying whole.

"Mirror of Truth" is a stellar album, and it's so great to hear what Clara Ponty has been up to the past five years! Sure to be on my Top 10 for 2004.

Enchanting.......2004-09-07

It is hard to come up with earth-bound words to describe the sensations that come with listening to Clara Ponty's much-awaited-for third album, but let me try: beautiful, harmonious, uplifting and stirring: it will inspire your inner soul to soar.

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