Jimmy Ponder Tribute Page

Jimmy (James Willis) Ponder born 1946. Selftaught guitarist claims to have had only one guitar lesson. My name is Anders Jonasson jazzguitarist from Sweden and i am running this tribute page of Jimmy Ponder on his approval as well as Dougals Malone Jimmys manager. I have abeen an addicted fan of Jimmys ever since that day in 1970 when I first heard his guitaplaying..it was on an album by the legendary tenorsaxplayer Stanley Turrentine and I I was so "hit" and emotionally overwhelmed by his soulful playing and to this day I am still addicted to his playing. I owe most of my playing to Jimmy without him I would never had gotten my act together. I n Nov 2007 I met Jimmy for the first time and itw as quiote emotional for Jimmy first time we met at his home in Pittsburgh. Then I ahd the opportunity to borrow one of Jimmys guitars and sit in with him and Dwayne Dolphins band at a club in Pittsburg. Spending thos edays with Jimmy and Douglas in Pittsburgh is something to be remembered for life,, actually I hope to be back spring 2009 to get some more guitarlessons by Jimmy..by then Jimmys new record should be out,,recording planned for spring 2008.Below John Barrons ALLABOUTJAZZ review of Jimmys album SOMEBODYS CHILD 2007Somebody’s Child Jimmy Ponder | HighNote Records (2007) By John Barron comments (1)The jazz world is full of unsung legends that generally fly under the radar of mainstream attention. One such legend is Pittsburgh native and guitarist extraordinaire Jimmy Ponder, who has been recording soulful, swinging jazz for four decades strong as both a leader and sideman. Somebody’s Child, his latest in a string of successful releases for High Note Records, finds the thumb wielding master grooving strong on a diverse set of ballads, blues and straight ahead classics. With his signature sound and bluesy, bop inspired lines, Ponder traverses familiar terrain on his own compositions “Kickin’ Da Bobo” and the title track. On the latter, a pensive, lyrical ballad heard in two separate versions, Ponder encompasses the essence of his unique style: lush chords, soulful single note lines and razor sharp octaves. Woody Shaw’s classic “Moontrane,” a highlight of the session, is a solid display of the guitarist’s mastery of intricate harmonies.Ponder, like his idol Wes Montgomery, plays with his thumb exclusively. Unlike Montgomery, however, Ponder exercises a more aggressive, punchy approach that makes his instrument rattle and hum, creating moments of sheer exuberance, most noticeably on “Too Late Now” and “The Creator Has a Master Plan.”Ponder sits front and center quite comfortably with the support of a stellar cast of sidemen. Handpicked by the guitarist, the session’s dynamic group of likeminded Pittsburgh stalwarts includes pianists Howard Alexander and Sonny Barbato, bassists Tony De Paolis, Jeff Grubbs and Dr. Mike Taylor, drummers Greg Bandy and George Heid—brother of famed jazz organist Bill Heid, and guitarist Douglas Malone, who accompanies Ponder with the Brazilian violao on “There Will Never Be Another You.”Somebody’s Child is a wonderful addition to the recorded legacy of one of the most underrated voices in jazz. There isn’t a single note of pretension or gimmickry to be found in Ponder’s playing, only honesty, openness and, most importantly, soul.Track listing: Kickin’ Da Bobo; Moontrane; Too Late Now; Wild is the Wind; Seven Steps to Heaven; Somebody’s Child; Who Will Be the One; Somebody’s Child Reprise; There Will Never Be Another You; The Creator Has a Master Plan.Personnel: Jimmy Ponder: guitar; Howard Alexander: piano (1-6, 8, 10); Sonny Barbato: piano (7); Tony De Paolis: bass (6, 10); Jeff Grubbs: bass (1-5); Dr. Mike Taylor: bass (7); Greg Bandy: drums (1, 2, 4, 5, 10); George Heid: drums (3, 6, 7), percussion (4); Douglas Malone: violao (9).SELECTED DISCOGRAPHYDown here on the ground 1983 Milestone M912Mean street no bridges 1987 Muse MCD 5324Jump 1988 Muse MCD 5347To reach a dream 1989 Muse MCD 5394Come on Down 1990 Muse MCD 5375Soul Eyea 1991 Muse MCD 5514Something to Ponder 1994 Muse 5567James Street 1997 High Note HCD 7017Guitar Christmas 1997 Hign Note HCD 7034A int Misbehavin 1998 High Note HCD 7041Thumbs Up 2000 Hign Note HCD 7080Alone 2000 High Note HCD 7069What s new 2002 Hign Note HCD 7100SomerbodysChild 2007 High Note HCD 7165Some Memorable PonderismsGreat artistry comes from people of great humility.I am here first and foremost to take care of people's feelings. If I am playing for them, I will take them to another place where they don't feel their pain or their sorrows or their anxieties for a moment in time.I happen to be a very aggressive guitarist. I don't regard the guitar as a singular - it is an orchestra.I approach playing with a particular type of controlled madness.I don't care what race of people, what culture of people or where they are located. Let me play for you. That is my conviction.If you're a professional, you put your ego aside and you say to who ever's in charge "What do you need from me?"When I'm doing my thing, I'm going to exude the qualities that I have worked to exhibit, and that is tone quality, projection, emotion, spirituality. That is what reaches people.I'm not here to please mathematicians or statisticians or mechanical afficianados. I am here to play for ordinary people. Let me play for you and satisfy your soul. That is my purpose.People relate very quickly to the human voice, especially the ladies. If the ladies don't buy the albums, don't wait for the dudes. The dudes follow the ladies. That's why George Benson sings so many romantic songs.If I die in poverty, I've had the best life can offer which is love, admiration and respect of my public and my friends. You can't ask for that. You can't buy