JEAN-LUC PONTY to chat live on America Online on Dec. 21!!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JAZZ VIOLINIST JEAN-LUC PONTY TO CHAT LIVE ON AMERICA ONLINE ON DEC. 21, 2001, TO PROMOTE 'LIFE ENIGMA' CD

Pioneering jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty will participate in a live chat on America Online on Friday, December 21, 2001, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Ponty is promoting 'Life Enigma,' his first solo studio CD in seven years.

Both AOL subscribers and non-subscribers may participate in the chat. Non-subscribers must first go to www.aol.com and download the free, temporary software. To access the chat, go to AOL Keyword: ECR CHAT Fri. 12/21 9PM ET Jean-Luc Ponty

Ponty recently completed a highly successful U.S. concert tour. He's been a musical innovator for more than three decades. His synthesis of jazz and rock is unmatched, and he's added elements of fusion, world, new age and progressive music to his unique style.

Ponty, a former member of guitarist John McLaughlin's legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra, has worked with an astonishing variety of musicians over the years including Frank Zappa, Elton John, Stanley Clark, Al DiMeola, George Benson, Allan Holdsworth, Chick Corea and George Duke, among many others.

'Life Enigma,' which Ponty released on his own JLP Productions Inc. label, is a conscious return to the style of 1977's 'Enigmatic Ocean' and 1978's 'Cosmic Messenger' -- both classics were Top 40 best-sellers -- along with the influence of West African music.

www.ponty.com