An amazing holiday recording: intense, elegant, melodical from guitar virtuoso Al Di Meola.

Track Listing

1. Zima
2. Carol of the Bells
3. Winterlude Duet No. 1
4. Greensleeves
5. Mercy Street
6. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
7. Winterlude No. 2
8. Midwinter Nights
9. Scarborough Fair
10. Winterlude No. 3
11. First Noel
12. Inverno
13. First Snow
14. Winterlude No. 4
15. Ave Maria

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11002 in Music
• Released on: 1999-09-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
Jazz guitarist Al DiMeola gives new meaning to the phrase world music by working with Ukrainian bandura player Roman Hrynkiv. Here DiMeola explores a special collection of instrumental seasonal works, underscoring them with layered percussion. A number of captivating originals and intricately arranged standards surface here, including "Carol of the Bells, "Ave Maria," and "The First Noel." DiMeola certainly titled the album right: these seasonal songs readily capture the penetrating chill and peacefulness of a star-laden winter sky. Recommended. --Martin Keller

From Jazziz
Al Di Meola lends some holiday cheer to his latest album, Winter Nights. On the disc, Di Meola performs classic holiday songs such as "The First Noël," "What Child Is This?" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." But he doesn't stop there. Di Meola also has composed some of his own holiday tunes, such as "First Snow Lullaby" and "Zima." On the recording, Di Meola plays acoustic guitars, harp, keyboards, and percussion and is joined by Roman Hrynkiv on bandura and Hernan Romero on acoustic guitar and percussion.

--- JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

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Customer Reviews

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS WITH AL.
What!! A Christmas album by DiMeola!!

I must admit I was a bit sceptical at first because so many Jazz/Fusion artist have made overly sweet and sentimental Christmas albums, but of course I shouldn't have doupted the master, this album is really good.

Al playes acoustic guitars on the album along with percussion, keyboards and a multi string harp Herman Romero plays additional guitar and percussion and then there is a player from Ukraine, Roman Hrynkiv who playes an ukrainian instrument called Bandura which is a plucked string instrument with a bright sound which fits this music wery well.

The music is a mix of well known Christmas songs and new compositions by DiMeola, there is of course a Christmas feel to the album but it's all in great taste and underneath the calm surface Al is burning.

I'm going to give the c.d a rest for now but come December this c.d. is going to be played a lot. This Christmas is definitely going to be fun, musicaly speaking at least.

Should not be overlooked
I bought this CD after hearing a Christmas track played over the radio. It is absolutely fabulous. Winter nights includes some seasonal tracks as well as eclectic choices - the arrangements are wonderful. Check out his version of the beautiful Peter Gabriel ballad "Mercy Street ". Done as an instrumental in Dimeolas style it fits perfectly with the winter theme of this CD. Don't just save it for the holidays - select the great non seasonal tracks for any gathering.

+ 1/2 stars...A Christmas Album to Enjoy Year 'Round
I first encountered Al Di Meola as the lightning-fingered guitarist for the fusion group Return to Forever and later on solo albums like ELEGANT GYPSY and SPLENDIDO HOTEL. But on WINTER NIGHTS, he is in a more subdued mood. Many of the tracks feature Ukrainian musician Roman Hrynkiv on bandura, a folk instrument similar to a lute. The two perform together to marvelous effect like on the Di Meola original "Zima" and the more traditional "The First Noel." In addition, Hrynkiv plays solo on several shorter pieces ("Winterlude No. 2, 3 and 4"). With only a scattering of recognizable Christmas songs, you can enjoy this album year 'round. [Running Time - 51:25] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED