Download music!: Al Di Meola & John Mc Laughlin-Mediterranean Sundance; Al Dimeola-Solo De Guitare Espagnole; Al DiMeola-Cafe 1930
Al Di Meola, born Al Laurence Dimeola July 22, 1954 in Jersey City, New Jersey is an Italian American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist.
Career
In 1971, he enrolled in the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1974 he joined Chick Corea's band, Return to Forever, and played with the band until a major lineup shift in 1976.
Di Meola went on to explore a variety of styles, but is most noted for his Latin-influenced jazz fusion works. He is a four time winner as Best Jazz Guitarist in Guitar Player Magazine's Reader Poll.
Guitar historian Robert Lynch states: "In the history of the electric guitar, no one figure has done more to advance the instrument in a purely technical manner than Mr. Di Meola. His total command of the various styles and scales is simply mind-boggling. I feel privileged to have been able to study his work all these years."
Lynch continues, "Just this past week I was watching an older clip of Mr. Di Meola's take on the classic Rolling Stones tune 'Jumpin Jack Flash' and I was completely floored with his ability to assimilate Keith Richards' raw and unbridled rock and roll stylings."
In addition to a prolific solo career, he has engaged in successful collaborations with bassist Stanley Clarke, synthesizer player Jan Hammer, violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, and guitarists John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía. He also guested on "Allergies" from Paul Simon's "Hearts and Bones" album (1983).
In the beginning of his career, as evidenced on his first solo album Land of the Midnight Sun (1976), Di Meola was noted for his technical mastery and extremely fast, complex guitar solos and compositions. But even on his early albums, he had begun to explore Mediterranean cultures and acoustic genres like flamenco. Good examples are "Mediterranean Sundance" and "Lady of Rome, Sister of Brazil" from the Elegant Gypsy album (1977). His early albums were very influential among rock and jazz guitarists alike. Di Meola continued to explore Latin music within the jazz-fusion genre on albums like Casino and Splendido Hotel. He exhibited a more subtle touch on acoustic numbers like "Fantasia Suite for Two Guitars" from the Casino album, and on the best-selling live album with McLaughlin and de Lucia, Friday Night in San Francisco. In 1980, he also toured with fellow Latin rocker, Carlos Santana.
With Scenario, he explored the electronic side of jazz in a collaboration with Jan Hammer (of Miami Vice theme fame). Beginning with this change, he further expanded his horizons with the acoustic album Cielo e Terra. He began to incorporate guitar/synthesizers on albums such as Soaring Through a Dream. Beginning in the 1990s, Di Meola recorded albums closer to World music and modern Latin styles than jazz.
He has continued to tour, playing in smaller venues like The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, and House of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada. Recent concerts have included a sampling of his newer material (an engaging mix of acoustic, "distorted acoustic", and guitar/synthesizer with a looser format than the songs on the early solo albums) along with a selection of electric guitar numbers from the early albums. Di Meola often closes out shows with an energetic rendition of one of his most challenging (to play, that is) pieces, "Race with Devil on Spanish Highway", from the Elegant Gypsy album. Even in technical showcases like this, he combines blindingly fast scalar runs with subtle, dazzling rhythms, and melodic phrases. Because of his early recordings, Di Meola became arguably the most important pioneer of shred guitar, influencing guitarists such as Yngwie Malmsteen (with whom he appeared on keyboardist Derek Sherinian's solo album Black Utopia (2003)). However, in most cases after the early 1980s, Di Meola has largely distanced himself from this approach. In various interviews, Di Meola has stated that his reason for stepping away from the electric guitar is due to hearing damage (manifested as tinnitus) from years of playing at excessive volumes; the acoustic guitar does not aggravate his condition.---------------
For over a quarter of a century, guitarist Al Di Meola has been a trailblazer. Flesh on Flesh, finds him pushing the musical envelope in both directions: exploring new avenues of cross-cultural expression while reaching into his own storied past to create a new and distinctly personal statement.
For Flesh on Flesh, Di Meola has gathered a diverse and highly talented supporting cast of world-class musicians, including bassist Anthony Jackson, pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, flutist Alejandro Santos and World Sinfonia members Gumbi Ortiz on percussion and Mario Parmisano on keyboards. In addition to contributing five originals, Di Meola also updates compositions by pianist Chick Corea, Argentinian tango master Astor Piazzolla and Brazilian guitarist Egberto Gismonti.
“What I like most about this record is that we were able to capture a phenomenal sound playing live in the studio,” Di Meola says. “I think the energy and excitement is several notches up, and the fact that I’m playing electric (mixed with acoustic) is a real plus. That element, along with the driving rhythms and drums, is very exciting.”
Di Meola’s electric guitar playing is what first brought him an international following, dating back to 1974 when Corea tapped the young Berklee student as a charter member of the seminal fusion group Return to Forever. Flesh on Flesh includes Corea’s composition “Senor Mouse” with Di Meola on Fender Stratocaster, one of the few times he has played that particular instrument. Di Meola also plays drums, his first instrument, on the track. Besides his Strat, he employs an array of different guitars, including a 1958 Les Paul, a Conde acoustic guitar and a Godin electro-acoustic guitar, as well as Ovation guitars and the Roland VG-88 guitar system.
Guitar wizardry is just one part of the musical equation that makes Flesh on Flesh so compelling. Special guest pianist Rubalcaba appears on several tracks. “It’s always been a real dream of mine to record with him,” notes Di Meola. Another star is bassist Jackson, who played on Di Meola’s Elegant Gypsy album in the mid-80s. They hadn’t worked together in nearly 15 years.
Flesh on Flesh features compositions from two of his favorite composers: Piazzolla and Gismonti. Di Meola considers Piazzolla a hero and says of his music, “I just can’t stop—I’m addicted.” On “Fugata,” the late composer’s material is interpreted respectfully by Di Meola, but with an added twist. “What I like doing with his tunes is changing the syncopation of the rhythm. It winds up sounding like a cross between Buenos Aires and Havana.”
Di Meola’s treatment of Gismonti’s composition “Meninas” is also very special, but for more personal reasons. “I’d never recorded anything by him, but I’ve always been a big fan. Always.” He adds, “This particular tune has got to be my favorite piece of his. I’ve always melted when I heard it. The translation of the title is ‘little girls’ and I know he wrote it with his children in mind. I also have two little girls, and there are certain melodies in the tune that make me think of them every time I’m away. It’s a harmonically beautiful piece that contains some of my favorite melodies.” For Flesh on Flesh, the guitarist recruited Grammy-winning recording engineer Roger Nichols (Steely Dan, Beach Boys) to add his expertise and help create a superior sound. “Roger is a legendary engineer, and we were very happy to have him on this project,” says Di Meola. “We had Roger record the basic tracks and that to me is the most important thing—laying the foundation.”
With his fourth Telarc release, Di Meola continues to break new ground in combining jazz with the diverse musics of the world. Flesh on Flesh is the latest step in that never-ending journey of self-discovery.
About Al Di Meola:
A native of New Jersey, Al Di Meola replaced Bill Conners in Chick Corea's "Return To Forever" at age 19. he left in 1976 after recording three albums with the group. During the four years following , his concert tours and solo LP's (including Land of the Midnight Sun, Elegant Gypsy, Casino, and Splendido Hotel) has brought him four straight wins as Best Jazz Guitarist in the Guitar Player Readers Poll, as well as three awards for the Best Guitar Albums.
His albums have explored a variety of styles,but his best liked albums are the latin influenced fusion albums which are his first through Tour De Force, plus the recent Kiss My Axe (you'll have to forgive the title). Cielo E Terra and Soaring Through a Dream explore world musics, while Scenario and Tirami Su have some of the edge removed. The fusion albums have a slight degree of sameness. He just doesn't seem to be able to channel that fiery style into any stylistic changes. But that doesn't mean he's not worth hearing! Get Elegant Gypsy (my favorite) or Casino. You won't be disappointed if you like guitar fusion or just good guitar ability Electric Rendezvous and Kiss My Axe are incredible albums from one of the best fusion guitarists alive.
Di Meola, Al [USA] [solo]
Land of the Midnight Sun (76), Elegant Gypsy (77), Casino (78), Splendido Hotel (80), Electric Rendezvous (82), Tour De Force - Live (82), Scenario (83), Cielo E Terra (85), Soaring Through a Dream (85), Tirami Su (87), World Sinfonia (90) Kiss My Axe (91), Orange and Blue (94), World Sinfonia II - Heart of the Immigrants (93) , Al Di Meola Play Piazzolla (96), The Infinite Desire (98) Winter Nights (99), Flesh on Flesh (2002).
Collaboration Works
Friday Night in San Francisco (81), Passion, Grace & Fire (83) and Rite Of Strings , The Guitar Trio (96)
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He holds the most prestigious guitar awards (of any guitarist in the world) from the highest rated guitar poll in the world, Guitar Player Magazine. He has been known throughout the world for the past two and a half decades as one of the most prominent virtuosos in the contemporary instrumental jazz field.Al Di Meola's highly celebrated career has spanned a wide range of emotions into a unique style embodying the artists world inspired influences. From the velocity and heat of his early solo efforts to the challenge and triumph of the “Di Meola / McLaughlin / De Lucia (Guitar Trio)”, from the Brazilian explorations of “Cielo e Terra” and “Soaring Through A Dream” to the global romanticism and Tango inflection of Al's acoustic group “World Synfonia” (self titled debut) and the 2nd “World Sinfonia” recording Heart of the Immigrants. From the beginning of his solo career, where records like “Land of the Midnight Sun”, “Elegant Gypsy” and “Casino”, were amongst the highest selling records of any instrumental artist at that time. Al Di Meola continues to make, with respect, startling achievements in music pioneering while the decline of U.S. radio continues to elude most interesting contemporary music.
Al Di Meola, again and again, reveals himself as a seasoned gifted contemporary composer and a player of deepening grace and evocative lyricism. He has been continually sited by many of the top prominent Music critics around the world for his virtuosic guitar work and compositions. Al's intrigue with complex rhythmic syncopation combined with provocative lyrical melodies always incorporating, sophisticated harmony at the root of these serious but heart felt works is central and foremost.
His awesome technique and musical depth can be traced back and is world renown with his debut with Chick Corea and “Return to Forever” in 1974. 1980 marked the triumph of the “Super Guitar Trio” with Paco De Lucia and John McLaughlin. The record “Friday Night in San Francisco” became a landmark recording resulting in wide acclaim, and surpassing two million records in sales. They toured from 1980 through 1983 and reunited for a 3rd CD “Guitar Trio” in 1996 follow by a world tour. In early 1996, Al Di Meola formed a new trio with the likes of Jean Luc Ponty, and Stanley Clarke (The Rite of Strings).
Di Meola has assembled what he describes as his “best group by fit in my career”. The name of this new group is the “Al Di Meola World Sinfonia 2000,” featuring musicians from Argentina, Cuba and Israel.
He has recorded over 21 records (CD's) of his own including his new solo acoustic guitar record “Winter Nights”. A very intimate recording of Di Meola himself alternating between two gorgeous vintage acoustic guitars and a bandura (a 48-string harp like instrument) played by a musician from Ukraine named Roman Hrynkiv. The music is centered on a holiday winter theme with songs ranging from four originals, four Christmas related pieces and two well-known pop pieces, one being “Mercy Street” by Peter Gabriel and “Scarborough Fair” by Paul Simon. Di Meola's choice of music on this record combined with his originals has a particular concurrent thematic mood.Al believes this record is audibly the best sounding record he's ever recorded. In addition to Roman Hrynkiv on bandura, Hernan Romero, Al's friend and musical partner is assisting with production and acoustic rhythm guitar on two tracks.
Among some of the names in his illustrious career, with whom Al has recorded or played with include the likes of Chick Corea, Luciano Pavarotti, Paco De Lucia, Paul Simon, Phil Collins, Santana, John McLaughlin, Larrv Coryell, Steve Winwood, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Jaco Pastorius, Les Paul, jean Luc Ponty, Steve Vai, Frank Zappa, Milton Naciemento, Egberto Gismonti, Jimmy Page, Tony Williams, Stanley Clarke, Stevie Wonder, Irakere and many more.
As “World Sinfonia” and “Heart of the Immigrant's” evocative melodies and rhythmic diversity were greatly influenced by the late Argentinian tango master Astor Piazzolla. On “Kiss My Axe”, “Infinite Desire” and “Orange and Blue”, he shows a broader cultural and musical scope. However, the friendship between Astor Piazzolla and Al Di Meola before his death greatly moved
the guitarist into deepening his considerable ties to the music of Argentina and the classical world. “Piazzolla had a profound effect on my development as a musician and as a person. We became close friends often communicating by mail, which later during the coarse of this my admiration and desire to learn more about this great man intensified.” “Chick Corea is also another major influence in my life; he has always been a wonderful supporter, major musical inspiration and a friend. Playing with Chick was the first significant step in my development as a player.”Born in an Italian family, then, while growing up in New Jersey, young Al Di Meola divided his time between guitar lessons and hanging out at the local salsa clubs. Influenced greatly by jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, Di Meola enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where his marathon practice sessions are still the stuff of legends (Al continues to be the technical master by whom other guitarists are measured). “We had three guys in one space; one in one room, one in the bathroom and I got the closet”. After a brief stint with keyboardist Barry Miles, Di Meola, at 19 was tapped by Chick Corea in 1974 for “Return to Forever”. His star quickly ascended.
Twenty-One recordings, countless awards, (including three gold albums) and six million albums later, Al Di Meola is still challenging himself and his music. His current productions are: “Infinite Desire,”( 1998), “Winter Nights,”( 1999),” “World Sinfonia,” (2000), “The Grand Passion,” (2000) and “Flesh on Flesh” his May 2003 release.
Released in September 2006, his fifth Telarc release, “Consequence of Chaos,” offers a contemporary set of 15 original compositions and guest appearances by pianist Chick Corea, drummer Steve Gadd, keyboardist Barry Miles, and bassist John Patitucci, among others.
For summer of 2008 Al is reuniting with the original members of Return To Forever, keyboardist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke, and drummer Lenny White in a highly anticipated tour.
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Discography
Solo works
Kiss My Axe (1991)
Al di Meola in concert at Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland. Photo Credit: Hugh Pickens
Land of the Midnight Sun (1976)
Elegant Gypsy (1977)
Casino (1978)
Splendido Hotel (1980)
Electric Rendezvous (1982)
Tour De Force - Live (1982)
Scenario (1983)
Cielo e Terra (1985)
Soaring Through a Dream (1985)
Tirami Su (1987)
Kiss My Axe (1991)
World Sinfonia (1991)
The Best of Al Di Meola - The Manhattan Years (1992)
World Sinfonia II - Heart of the Immigrants (1993)
Orange and Blue (1994)
Al Di Meola Plays Piazzolla (1996)
The Infinite Desire (1998)
Christmas: Winter Nights (1999)
World Sinfonía III - The Grande Passion (2000)
Flesh on Flesh (2002)
Al Di Meola Revisited (2003)
Vocal Rendezvous (2006)
Consequence of Chaos (2006)
Diabolic Inventions And Seduction For Solo Guitar (2006)
World Sinfonia - La Melodia (2008)
CollaborationsVenusian Summer (1975) Lenny White, Al Di Meola, Larry Coryell
Go (1976) with Go Stomu Yamash'ta,Steve Winwood, Al Di Meola
Go Live From Paris (1976) with Go Stomu Yamash'ta,Steve Winwood, Al Di Meola
Go Too (1977) with Go
Friday Night in San Francisco (1980) with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía
Passion, Grace and Fire (1983) with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía
Latin (1987) with George Dalaras
Super Guitar Trio And Friends (1990) with Larry Coryell and Biréli Lagrène
Rite Of Strings (1995) with Stanley Clarke and Jean-Luc Ponty
Dance of Fire (1995) - Aziza Mustafa Zadeh
The Guitar Trio (1996) with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía
Winter Nights (1999) - Roman Hrynkiv
Inspiration - Colors & Reflections (2000) Aziza Mustafa Zadeh
Nylon & Steel (2001) Manuel Barrueco
The Running Roads (2001) with George Dalaras
Black Utopia (2003) with Derek Sherinian
Cosmopolitan Life (2005) with Leonid Agutin
Midsummer Night In Sardinia (2005) with Andrea Parodi
Mária (Égi szerelem) (2007) with Miklos Malek and Eszter Horgas
As Producer
Magic Touch (1985) Stanley Jordan
Return to Forever albums featuring Di Meola
Where Have I Known You Before (1974, Polydor)
No Mystery (1975, Polydor)
Romantic Warrior (1976, Columbia)
ReferencesAl Di Meola, Telarc International Corporation. Accessed September 20, 2007. "“In the ‘60s, if you didn’t play like Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page, you weren’t accepted,” he recalls of his high school years in Bergenfield, New Jersey."
The State of Jazz: Meet 40 More Jersey Greats, The Star-Ledger, September 28, 2004.
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