Jimmy Ponder

Jimmy Ponder (May 10, 1946 – September 16, 2013) was an American jazz guitarist.

Ponder started playing guitar at age 14. He was influenced most by Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell. He began playing with Charles Earland at 17, and in the following years with Lou Donaldson, Houston Person, Donald Byrd, Stanley Turrentine, and Jimmy McGriff. He moved to Philadelphia and later New York City in the 1970s, and recorded extensively as a leader for a number of jazz labels. Since the late 1980s, he frequently returned to his hometown to perform with his trio of two other Pittsburgh musicians, Roger Humphries and Gene Ludwig. Ponder's highest charting release was the 2007 CD "Somebody's Child", topping at #3 on the JazzWeek "airplays" chart in June of that year.

Ponder died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, aged 67 in September 2013.

Discography

As leader

• While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Cadet, 1973)
• Illusions (Impulse!, 1976)
• White Room (Impulse, 1977)
• All Things Beautiful (LRC, 1978)
• Seven Minds (America, 1979) (released in France only)
• Ponder'n (51 West, 1981)
• Down Here On the Ground (Milestone, 1984)
• So Many Stars (Milestone, 1985)
• Mean Streets – No Bridges (Muse, 1987)
• Jump (Muse, 1988)
• Come On Down (Muse, 1990)
• To Reach a Dream (Muse, 1991) rec. 1988–1989
• Jimmy Ponder: Sonny Lester Collection (LRC, 1991) compilation
• Soul Eyes (Muse, 1995) rec. 1991
• Something to Ponder (Muse, 1996) rec. 1994
• James Street (HighNote, 1997)
• Steel City Soul (32 Jazz, 1998) compilation
• Guitar Christmas (HighNote, 1998)
• Ain't Misbehavin' (HighNote, 2000) rec. 1998
• Thumbs Up (HighNote, 2001)
• Alone (HighNote, 2003) rec. 2000
• What's New (HighNote, 2005) rec. 2002
• Somebody's Child (HighNote, 2007)
• Live at the Other End (Explore, 2007) rec. 1982

As sideman

With Rusty Bryant

• Wild Fire (Prestige, 1971)

With Donald Byrd

• Fancy Free, (Blue Note, 1970)

With Lou Donaldson

• Mr. Shing-A-Ling (Blue Note, 1967)
• Say It Loud! (Blue Note, 1968)

With Charles Earland

• Boss Organ (Choice, 1966 [1969])
• Soul Crib (Choice, 1969)
• Smokin' (Muse, 1966/77 [1977])
• Mama Roots (Muse, 1966/77 [1977])
• Infant Eyes (Muse, 1978)

With Andrew Hill

• Grass Roots (Blue Note, 1968) released 2000

With Richard Groove Holmes

• Blues All Day Long (Muse, 1988)
• Hot Tat (Muse, 1989 [rel. 1991])

With Johnny Hodges

• Rippin' & Runnin' (Verve, 1968)

With Willis Jackson

• In the Alley (Muse, 1976)

With Etta Jones

• Ms. Jones to You (Muse, 1976)
• My Mother's Eyes (Muse, 1977)

With Clifford Jordan

• Inward Fire (Muse, 1978)

With Jack McDuff

• The Fourth Dimension (Cadet, 1974)

With Jimmy McGriff

• The Main Squeeze (Groove Merchant, 1974)
• Stump Juice (Groove Merchant, 1975)

With John Patton

• That Certain Feeling (Blue Note, 1968)

With Houston Person

• Stolen Sweets (Muse, 1976)
• Wild Flower (Muse, 1977)

With Sonny Phillips

• My Black Flower (Muse, 1976)

With Shirley Scott

• Superstition (Cadet, 1973)

With Joe Thomas

• Joy of Cookin' (Groove Merchant, 1972)

With Mickey Tucker

• Triplicity (Xanadu, 1975)

With Stanley Turrentine

• Common Touch (Blue Note, 1968) - with Shirley Scott

With Joe Lee Wilson

• Come and See (Explore, 1981 [rel. 2007])