Christopher Gross

Christopher Gross Ensemble: Hit the Mark

by Dave Hughes
September 1, 2000

Saying that this modern-day guitar-violin fusion quintet was influenced by Jean-Luc Ponty's band circa late 70s would be an understatement. The CD's title track opener, which they admit is a “variation" on Ponty's “Mirage," could be found by a sympathetic court to be so close to the original as to be plagiarism. The next tune, while largely original, quotes directly from the third movement of “The Struggle of the Turtle to the Sea." Ponty is not the band's only influence, ...