Track Listing

1. San Marco (Moderna)
2. Turquoise
3. Odyssey
4. Tao
5. Azucar
6. Sanctuary
7. Hypnose
8. Red Moon
9. Cry for You
10. Just Three Words
11. Tempest
12. Storm Off-Shore
13. Black Pearls
14. Africana Suite
15. San Marco (Vecchio)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62075 in Music
• Released on: 2006-09-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Album Description
Legendary guitar hero Al Di Meola's first release in four years is a searing, high caliber affair, brimming with colorful and complex arrangements. Di Meola's fifth Telarc album offers a contemporary set of fifteen original, genre-blurring compositions. The roster of special guests includes pianist Chick Corea, drummer Steve Gadd, keyboardist Barry Miles, bassists John Patitucci and Victor Miranda, and percussionist Kornel Horvath.

Amazon.com
In the '70s, guitarist Al Di Meola was the teenage phenom who burst on the scene with pianist Chick Corea and Return to Forever. Three decades later, his Memphisto-like prowess is still in effect, as evidenced by this impressive disc. With a number of world-class musicians--including drummer Steve Gadd, bassist John Patitucci, and keyboardist Barry Miles--Di Meola conjures up a whirling dervish of sounds that easily groove in fusion, world music, and techno contexts. The two versions of "San Marco" are cast in New World improvisations and Old World airs. "Tao," "Hypnose," "Tempest," "Black Pearls," and the "Africana Suite" swing with East Asian, Arabic, and West African harmonic and rhythmic motifs. Corea joins his former bandmate on the Santana-like "Red Moon" and the light but funky "Odyssey." Di Meola, who also plays percussion and keyboards, has grown with the times, with his killer power chords intact. --Eugene Holley Jr.

From the Artist
"This is really a new and refreshing period for me. This recording marks my return to playing solid-body electric guitar in the context of modern concepts and composition. I love the energy and the fact that I have reconnected to my first love."

Customer Reviews

Solid.
The veteran guitarist is back in the trusty electric saddle.
Di Meola was the blazing jazz fusion axeman par excellence in "Return To Forever" back in the '70s and he has come a long way since - he's explored acoustic via Brazilian, tango and flamenco collaborations and developed his compositional and arranging abilities considerably.

That expanded knowledge base is evident in the fifteen tracks on this release, but so is the obvious fun he has reconnecting with his first love - the solid-body electric guitar.
So although this record is not all about electric flash - there's plenty of rich texture and strong melody to get your head round - it's great to hear him cut loose as in days of yore.
Di Meola's distinctive style and classy approach congeal the music with authority.

He's signed up good support too: former boss Chick Corea appears on two tunes (the lovely acoustic duet on "Cry for You" which brings out the best in both musicians as their interplay , and the scalding "Red Moon" )
Percussionists Ernie Adams and Gumbi Ortiz's standout work, especially on the subtle "Hypnose," add hot, bubbling flavor to the project,and drum maestro Steve Gadd guests on another couple and Di Meola's working quartet provide road-tested grooves throughout.
A must for all electric guitar aficionados.

Boy, is this guy good...
The only conclusion I can come to after reading some of the negative reviews of this CD is that people tend to judge too quickly, and don't give the work time to "marinate" in their heads. The bulk of DiMeola's work for about the last 15 years requires (and I think deserves) repeated listening before public review. Even the negative reviews acknowledge that this is an instrumentalist of immense talent, and if there are any shortcomings I think they're primarily due to the understandable challenge of finding the right musical avenues to display it. So many people seem to want Al to relive the Elegant Gypsy days, but as good as that was he's been there, done that--there were no more places to take that style. DiMeola's current "world music" phase includes such highly structured and multi-textured performances that it's impossible to fully appreciate them on one or two listenings, and I speak from experience on this. I have been a fan of his since the RTF days and continued to buy his work, but actually lost interest in it for a number of years after "Kiss My Axe" in 1991. I bought "Orange & Blue", "Infinite Desire" and "Flesh on Flesh", but listened to them only occasionally and superficially until I heard "Orange & Blue" being played during a set break at (of all things) a Marian McPartland concert. I almost had forgotten I owned the CD, and upon my return home began playing it and Al's other later work almost continuously for several months. I then introduced it to a co-worker who was a big Metheny listener (as am I), and the contrast to that style made me appreciate DiMeola all the more--as good as Metheny can be, DiMeola's talent and versatility are second to none, and "Consequence" is a fine example of that. I challenge any guitar aficionado to listen to Tempest, Red Moon, or the subtle power of the solo in San Marco (Moderne) after the chorus and tell me this guy still can't rip it better than anybody.

Notice that the negative reviews of this recording almost all reference comparison to Al's early days, or make superficial Santana comparisons (which I think have only to do with latin tinged/world music and electric guitar--otherwise there's no comparison). This is more complex and interesting music than either Santana or early Al ever dreamed of--it takes a while to fully sink in.

His Best in a Long Time
The sticker on the cover of this cd announces its di meola's return to solid body electric guitar. I think this statement led many people think this was going to be Land of the Midnight Sun 2 or Elegant Gypsy 2. It is not and it is not meant to be. This cd is not that sort of electric pyrotechnic showcase, but it is an excellent release - my favorite since Tour de Force. While it has some quieter acoustic moments mixed in, it never dips into "soft jazz" and there is a lot of great electric and accoustic playing here. Red Moon alone would be worth the price, but there are many top notch tunes here and no clunkers. There is no techno synth sounds like Jeff Beck has been doing lately, which is a great relief. This is real guitar playing. Listen to this with the right expectations and I think you will hear a great guitarist, great interplay among outstanding musicians and an excellent recording.