Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24814 in Digital Music Album
• Released on: 1999-09-01
• Running time: 0 seconds

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