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SUBJECT:	New Al Di Meola Back to Subjects
Peterw Apr 03 2011 at 1:08 PM	Hi to all, Another great new album i urge you to check out (especially for you Guitar enthusiasts) is Al Di Meola’s "Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody". The playing on this album is brilliant. The opening track made me think of a PMG sound although the guitar styles are completely different. Al’s flamenco stylings are amazing. If you have a chance sample this album you will love it.
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chickb Apr 15 2011 at 8:07 PM	I’ve had the cd for several weeks and it is fantastic, better with every listen....
HAMBONE Apr 15 2011 at 11:44 AM	wright, what a sickening expression, abortion music! But as far as DiMeola goes, I agree with those who still appreciate his music. I always have, although at times it seemed a little distant and cold. But overall, I think he deserves mentioning here with the other great guitarists of his time.And the World Sinfonia band is an awesome lineup. Even if you weren’t a fan of his early solo recordings his current music deserves another listen.
wright Apr 15 2011 at 8:09 AM	Cheers to you too John; loved your post and totally agreed with it. Al has mellowed over the years and is not the shredder he once was, although he can still race with the devil. Age and hearing problems have facilitated these changes, perhaps, but his stage performances are always enjoyable (and jaw-dropping). Fido, I appreciate your opinion but think it is crazy, to say the least, especially if you are a musician. But, it takes all kinds of folks to make the world spin - I even had a friend say that Metheny’s Secret Story sounded like abortion music. Di Meola won Guitar Player’s guitarist of the year four times and has played with some of the world’s greatest musicians. I know Al will be sick to learn that you will not be inviting him to play with you.
dgaw59 Apr 15 2011 at 8:02 AM	DiMeola can surely be mentioned along side the greats-he has a distinctive voice, chops any guitarist would sell their souls for and he has matured musically over time. His latest work demonstrates this.
thehague Apr 15 2011 at 1:00 AM	Fido, who says?
Fido Apr 14 2011 at 10:30 PM	Roll Tide, there are plenty of guitarists to talk about in the same conversation as Metheny; Scofield, Montgomery, Frisell, Hall and others - but DiMeola is definitely not one of them in any way.
Peterw Apr 13 2011 at 11:48 AM	Well in response to some of the posts here. There are a number of Al’s recordings that don’t due much for me. I like his work with RTF and some earlier work...but most of his solo stuff is just ok (in my humble opinion), But this new recording is quite good. I agree with some of you out there but if you haven;t checked this album out you are doing yourself a disservice.
Dazedcat Apr 13 2011 at 10:34 AM	I always thought "Flesh On Flesh" was just tremendous. I can’t say I’m much of a fan of Al D anymore but that particular album is five stars plus.
john Apr 13 2011 at 6:48 AM	Wright, the Spivey Hall recital sounds great. I just wish he could have brought it to London. I agree with you when you say different doesn’t mean better, simply it is just that - different. I guess what I was trying to say in my long winded post is that you shouldn’t be too dismissive of musicians – they can and do surprise you and in Al’s case, he’s a leopard that’s changed his spots – musically at least. Cheers John.
wright Apr 12 2011 at 5:46 PM	John, I saw Al Di Meola at Spivey Hall with Cuban classical guitarist Manuel Barrueco in 2005 - just Al and Manuel sitting on the stage and playing some of the most exquisite music imaginable, including Tangos I - III (written for Al by Astor Piazzolla). Saw him again last month in Atlanta with Gumbi Ortiz and the World Sinfonia, in a packed, enthusiastic venue, and he was polite, funny and on fire (missed Fausto Beccalossi on his frenetic accordian however). I have seen Pat and Al numerous times and have never been disappointed with their performances. They are different people, play with different people, express their musical ideas differently and have had different experiential backgrounds. Different doesn’t mean better - just different. Both have brought me much joy and have broadened my musical sensitivities. Neither should be missed when they come to a venue near you.
Roll Tide Apr 12 2011 at 4:00 PM	Fido, relax, it’s ok if other folks think there’s other good guitarists - even if hinted about on a Metheny forum. Good grief.
john Apr 12 2011 at 2:28 PM	I caught up with Al’s music after RTF and rather liked his early solo stuff. I thought Elegant Gypsy was a fine recording. I also caught him live a couple of times but became increasingly disillusioned with his music, culminating in an awful concert in 1988. It was full of pelvic thrusting, plank spanking antics that detracted from the music and I decided not to bother with his music as it didn’t speak to me. Concert broadcasts in the intervening years only seemed to confirm what I felt (although I liked his contribution in the Guitar Trio). However a couple of years ago, he appeared at the Jazz Café in London. I went along almost out of curiosity and it turned out to be a great evening. There was no ego on show with the focus on the music. It made a difference that he’s had a long term working musical relationship with his band (some with him for 15 plus years) and he’s found his musical inspiration in the Argentine musician Astor Piazzolla. For me, the music really worked - the flash wass gone and replaced by a more mature, grounded style that harnessed the DiMeola passion and he seemed to have found himself. Most material was from recent recordings with little from the 1970’s/80’s. Chase with the Devil was a predictable encore but even this was a subdued version. He played a lovely solo acoustic segment of his interpretation of some of Piazzolla’s music and had the normally boisterous Jazz Café crowd quietly and attentively listening in appreciation. His music does stand, so much that I’m off to see him at the Union Chapel in London next month. Cheers John.
zargb5 Apr 11 2011 at 5:45 AM	Yeah, i like the new album too. Since the world sinfonia days he’s benn doing some tasty complex stuff. My fave album of his is ’cielo e terra’
Fido Apr 10 2011 at 11:53 PM	Writing about Al Dimeola in a Metheny forum is like talking about a McDonalds cheeseburger at a 5 star restaurant. Like, why would you do that? But, to each his own. I just have never gotten anything deeply musical from the guy in any way.
dgaw59 Apr 10 2011 at 7:14 AM	Agreed. I recently saw Di Meola in SC and he and his band were superb. The record is his best in years and demonstrates his on-going growth. The upcoming RTF tour will miss him.
Brinklehof Apr 09 2011 at 7:24 PM	Picked up Al’s new album and been listening to it for the last two weeks. Really great stuff. Have been big Di Meola fan for decades. To me Pat is on a whole different level but always been a fan of Al.
robby27 Apr 08 2011 at 9:33 PM	Peterw is absolutely right. This Al D on this album is amazing.
planetaoval Apr 04 2011 at 2:28 PM	Al is amazing, really.
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