AL DI MEOLA ... GUITARIST!
photograph by Patrick Farrell
VIRTUOSIC REFLECTIONS ...
No matter acoustic or electric, the 70s or today ... classical, latin, rock, metal, or jazz ... Al brings a level of virtuosity to whatever he chooses to play, assuring the highest quality of any project of which he's involved. In addition to starting his career in keyboardist Chick Corea's RETURN TO FOREVER, Al has produced 25 solo records (four gold, including "Land of the Midnight Sun" and "Elegant Gypsy"), and has collaborated with hundreds of diverse and talented artists including: Return to Forever bandmates Stanley Clarke and Lenny White, John McLaughlin and Paco De Lucia ("A Friday Night in SanFrancisco"), Phil Collins, Larry Coryell, Jan Hammer, Herbie Hancock, Anthony Jackson, Tony Levin, Milton Naciemento, Jimmy Page, Jaco Pastorius, Les Paul, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Carlos Santana, Wayne Shorter, Steve Vai, Stevie Wonder, Tony Williams, Steve Winwood, Frank Zappa, and so many more.
_________________________________
RETURN OF THE ELECTRIC WARRIOR ...
After spending most of the 1990s concentrating almost exclusively on ACOUSTIC music ("The Rites of Strings" with Jean-Luc Ponty and Stanley Clarke, three records with his own World Sinfonia Band, "The Guitar Trio" reunion with John McLaughlin and Paco De Lucia, and "Di Meola Plays Piazzolla," Al, as the 21st Century turned, was getting the urge to reconnect with his ELECTRIC ROOTS. On 2002's "FLESH ON FLESH," he effectively integrated his acoustic, contemporary, and fusion styles, and re-established himself as a composer on what some call his most sophisticated record to date. At the same time, he was also more frequently playing his 1959 Les Paul, to overwhelmingly appreciative audiences. Then, like a bolt out of the blue, Paul Reed Smith (PRS) sent Al one of their company's prototype 513 model guitars ... Since that day in 2004, the hand-made, tiger-striped, laquered Axe has become Al's electric weapon of choice. For the past three years, he's been tearing it up, and reminding the music world why he is, and will always be, GUITAR ROYALTY.
_________________________________
"ONE NIGHT LAST JUNE" ...
Al, last month at the Zappa Club in Tel Aviv, Israel with Gumbi (percussion), Mario (piano), Mike Pope (bass), and Tony Escapa (drums). Thanks to Ehud at SBG media for the footage.
_________________________________
WELCOME TO THE PARTY ...
"Cosmopolitan Life" ... Al Di Meola with Leonid Agutin (2005), European Pop, Russian style. Critics be damned, Al never forgets what it is to have a good time. The vibe inside this imaginary Moscow club is HOT!
A MULTI-GENRE GUITAR MASTER, Al is, year after year, voted "THE BEST," in both listener and critics' polls, and has consistently occupied the covers of international guitar playing and music magazines. Whether FLAMENCO in Barcelona, CLASSICAL in Budapest, FUSION in New York, or ROCK 'N' ROLL in Tokyo, he never fails to amaze audiences with his jaw-dropping virtuosity. Of course he receives his share of the expected criticism coming with such versatility. Some of those attracted to the speed-driven runs of Return to Forever and his early solo records call his more technical, acoustic, World Sinfonia Band "sterile," and "soulless." On the other hand, the jazz elite call his rock 'n' roll collaborations, like those with Steve Vai and Derek Sherinian, nothing more than "masturbatory noise."
Of course all such critics couldn't be more wrong. Al has, and continues to produce an abundance of material in all genres. Something to satisfy any specific taste, and enough to satisfy the more knowlegable, open-minded fans who appreciate the variety.
Fortunately for the latter, Al has, along with his talent, developed a self-confidence, and a FUCK THE CRITICS attitude that allows him, unlike many in the jazz world, to explore the widest range of musical possibilities, and most importantly, continue to HAVE A GOOD TIME.
You've come to the right place, ENJOY THE RIDE!
_________________________________
THE BEST IS YET TO COME ...
Even considering all he's accomplished in the past three decades, it is still arguable that the past three years have been Al's most experimental, creative, and productive. "Consequence of Chaos" (on which his mentors, Chick Corea and Barry Miles appear) was another sophisticated effort, in the "Flesh on Flesh" vain, and further reinforces Al's reputation as a JAZZ COMPOSER. On the other hand, Al appeared on Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian's HEAVY METAL instrumental "Black Utopia," contributed to "The Royal Dan," a GUITAR FUSION tribute to Steely Dan and then made at least three excursions into POP. George Dalaras' "The Running Roads" recalled Carlos Santana's more Latin duets on his "Supernatural," as do many of the tunes on Leonid Augutin's "Cosmopolitan Life," and maybe most interesting, there's "Vocal Rendezvous," maybe the most surprising, criticized, and fun of them all. Two young Russian producers, living in Sweden, after seeing Al play at a summer jazz festival in Warsaw, Poland, asked if he'd lay down some guitar tracks for a HIP-HOP/R&B record they were making. He agreed, and eventually a number of singers, including Angie Stone and Macy Gray, appear.
_________________________________
BACK TO THE FUTURE ...
Anaheim, California (January 2005)
Just before the release of his newest "Consequence of Chaos," Al reminded an audience at the 2005 National Association of Music Manufacturers why so many consider him the "GOD" OF FUSION GUITAR. In a talented field of original masters, including John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell and Pat Metheney, Al has consistently exhibited the extreme versatility that keeps him in the highest strata.
_________________________________
IN THE BEGINNING ...
RETURN TO FOREVER: Lenny White (drums), Chick Corea (keyboards), Al Di Meola (guitar), Stanley Clarke (bass). The most popular, and commercially successful lineup in Corea's fusion-founding band. Between 1974 and 1976, it produced "Where Have I Known You Before?," and the Grammys-winning "No Mystery" and "Romantic Warrior."
AL DI MEOLA was only 19 years old when he won his first GRAMMY AWARD and RE-DEFINED THE ELECTRIC GUITAR'S PLACE IN JAZZ. In 1974 he was a student at Berklee School of Music in Boston (listening to The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Cream) when he received a life-changing call from pianist CHICK COREA. Chick was the leader of a cutting edge ensemble called RETURN TO FOREVER, known for its uncompromising musical exploration and complexity ... qualities that had already attracted Al's attention. He had recently joined a like-minded band with keyboardist BARRY MILES. Barry was a friend of Chick's, and fellow MILES DAVIS alumn, who suggested to Chick, when Return to Forever guitarist Bill Connors left the band, that his "young, cocky guitar player" could fill the vacancy. Taking Barry's advice, Chick called Al, and invited him to audition in New York. As Al puts it, he packed a bag, took the train to the city, and "NEVER SAW THAT TINY APARTMENT AGIAN." After only a week of rehearsals, Al played his first RTF show at Carnegie Hall, and the next night played before 40,000 at an Atlanta jazz festival.
AL PROVED TO BE EXACTLY WHAT CHICK HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR IN A GUITARIST. After a most inspirational three years in Miles Davis' band (recording "IN A SILENT WAY" and "BITCHES BREW"), Chick, like John McLaughlin and The Mahavishnu Orchestra, was using synthesizers and hi-tech electronics in an effort to infuse complex jazz compositions with a supercharged rock 'n' roll energy. Barely out of his PSYCHEDELIC, HARD ROCK high school days, a young, disciplined Di Meola met the criteria. Along with drummer Lenny White (another "Bitches Brew" alumn), and "lead" bassist Stanley Clarke, Corea's Return to Forever, with Tony Williams, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, Jeff Beck, and Carlos Santana went on to most dramatically shape the new genre of jazz called FUSION.
_________________________________
"THE MAGICIAN" ...
Return to Forever (The Old Grey Whistle Test, 1976)
This live performance of one of bassist Stanley Clarke's compositions off "The Romantic Warrior" was for the popular English television program soon after the release of what remains one of the most successful, landmark Fusion records. As an indication of how fast and furious were the musical developments in the 1970s, by the end of 1976 Al had left Return to Forever, and recorded "LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN," his first solo record.
_________________________________
"KISS MY AXE" ...
It was 1991, Al, "The Rebel," delivered a clear message to Capitol-EMI Records (his soon-to-be former label), and decided to go it alone.
An up-tempo version of the title track of Al's 1991 "Kiss My Axe." Unhappy with his increasing interest in his ACOUSTIC and FLAMENCO styles Capitol-EMI Records threatened to drop Di Meola from its roster. So, in a powerful, "in-you-face" response, Al quit, put together an all-star FUSION band, recorded the electrifying album Capitol-EMI wanted, and delivered it, a small, independent label called Tomato Records.
Here, soon after the "Kiss My Axe" was released, Al (with his favorite '59 Les Paul guitar) and the band — Barry Miles (piano), Gumby Oritz (percussion), Tony Scherr (bass), Richie Morales (drums), and Rachel Z (sythesizers) — play to an appreciative New York City crowd.
_________________________________
"60 SECONDS OVER TOKYO" ...
illustration by Dave Hogerty
When a young Japanese guitarist named Char hosted a JIMI HENDRIX tribute concert in 2001, he had the good sense to invite Al to participate. In town, playing shows at Tokyo's Blue Note jazz club in support of "Flesh on Flesh," Al enjoyed breaking out his favorite Axe, happily stepping onstage, and in a lightning-fast minute, showing the appreciative Asian crowd how it's done.
