Last Friday, the famed jazz violinist Jean Luc Ponty played at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

Our Art Director Mike Mertes was able to attend to the show and photograph the jazz-fusion leader who brought several musicians with him to play.

Click on the slideshow below to view photos in full size 

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Photos by Mike Mertes, AZ BIG Media 

The band that played with him included many members from Ponty’s time when he was recording albums for Atlantic Records.

“We’re calling it “The Atlantic Years” tour since I am touring with my band from the late ’70s – ’80s with whom I recorded several albums for Atlantic Records,” Ponty said.

His band consisted of: Ponty on violin, Wally Minko on keyboards, Jamie Glaser on guitar, Rayford Griffin on drums, and Baron Browne on bass.

Ponty studied classical violin in Paris before eventually turning to jazz music in the ’60s. He has played with many famed musicians including: Frank Zappa, Quincy Jones and many others.