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Al Di Meola PDF Print E-mail
aldimeola 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 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. Di Meola’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.
Influenced greatly by jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, Di Meola had enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where his marathon practice sessions are still the stuff of legends. After a brief stint with keyboardist Barry Miles, Al Di Meola was tapped by Chick Corea in 1974 – at the age of 19. Now his star quickly ascended. His awesome technique and musical depth can be traced back to the debut album with Chick Corea – Return to Forever in 1974. In 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. The result of which, surpassing two million records in sales. They toured from 1980 through 1983 and reunited for a 3rd CD Guitar Trio in 1996 followed by a world tour.
In early 1996, Al Di Meola formed a new trio with the likes of Jean Luc Ponty and Stanley Clarke named The Rite of Strings. In 2000 he formed the Al Di Meola World Sinfonia 2000 featuring musicians from Argentina, Cuba and Israel.
Several recordings, countless awards, (including three gold albums) and six million albums later, Al Di Meola is still challenging himself and his music. 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.