Violinist Lorenza Ponce strings together rock, jazz, blues
TIMES RECORD NEWS
by Sharon Chance
You've probably seen the gorgeous, dark-haired violinist backing up some of the top bands and live acts around today Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks, Sarah McLachlan, John Tesh, Hall and Oates, and Bon Jovi, to name a few.
But now it's Lorenza Ponce's turn to break out on her own.
Launching a solo venture in support of her new album, "Soul Shifter," Ponce brings her years of experience to her own music, and the result is an eclectic blending of rock, jazz and blues. Ponce deftly combines instrumental work with her surprisingly sultry vocals.
Ponce began playing violin as a child and developed the skills that have made her one of the top live and studio violinists on the music scene today.
"I began playing violin when I was 10," Ponce said in a recent phone interview from her home in New York. "It was part of a school program where they brought a bunch of instruments for us to try. I saw the violin and just loved it. I immediately gravitated to it. It was a meant-to-be kind of moment for me."
Over the years, Ponce added mandolin, guitar and piano to her repertoire.
Her recent work includes playing violin and singing backup vocals for Bon Jovi on the "Lost Highways" tour, as well as a few selected dates on the current "The Circle" tour.
"I began working with Jon Bon Jovi right after Sept. 11," Ponce said. "I was contacted and asked if I could play for them at the Tribute to Heroes' telethon, and I said, ?Of course!' They were going to play Livin' on a Prayer,' so I went out, got their greatest-hits album and learned the number. We rehearsed it once and played it live, and it was just great. I've worked with Jon and the band ever since."
Now it's her turn to shine in the spotlight, and as comfortable as she is on stage, she said the solo project has been a bit of a nerve-racking experience for her.
"When it's just you, you have to be on' all the time," she said. "You have to do all the talking, and you have to have your wits about you all the time. But I'm loving it. It's really a lot of fun."
Ponce showcased her new album recently at an intimate, live show in New York.
"I recently did a show in New York, right before Bon Jovi did their Meadowlands shows, and it was a complete blast," she said. "It was wonderful meeting my fans, some who had come for the Bon Jovi concerts from all over the world. I'm very active on Facebook and Twitter, and have a dialogue with them all the time, and to share my music and get to meet them face to face was just great."
Ponce has found making her fifth album, "Soul Shifter" (she has four previous albums), to be a life-altering process.
"It's been a real journey to making this CD," she said. "It was just the right time for me to do this musically. Even when I was doing the instrumental work and the New Age' music, my love has always been with a more rock sound, and I'm finding that this is my favorite album so far."
From the achingly beautiful lyrics to "Casual Girl," the bopping and frisky sounds of "Please Don't Go," to the bluesy "What Happened to You," Ponce stretches her wings to include a bit of every type of music she loves.
But her shining moment comes with "Testify."
"This song came to me in a dream," Ponce said. "It was born perfect, and I woke up and ran downstairs to record it. It's probably one of my favorite songs on this album, and it really seems to speak to people." The soulful, spine-tingling acoustic number borders on the gospel side and touches the heart and soul with its haunting melody and lyrics.
Ponce is taking on the job of spreading her music to the masses. This summer, she'll be on radio and live shows all across the country and hopes people will love the music as much as she does.
"There's a little something here for everyone," she said. "Soul Shifter" is available through Ponce's website, www.lorenzaponce.com, at Amazon.com and on iTunes.
