Great Guitarist and really nice guy. I met Al outside a Starbucks and with several other people who were fans, had a very nice conversation. When Elegant Gypsy came out, my mind was blown by "Mediterranean Sundance", although I also love alot of his other work. When I was in my early 20's, I was living in hell. I was working stripping furniture, sick from the chemicals for minimum wage which was $4.00 an hour. The building I lived in was occupied by junkies and a drug dealer. My only release was playing my shitty little 3/4 scale factory reject Gianini acoustic guitar that I dropped and broke the head stock off, which I glued and clamped at a friend's shop. I played that barely playable instrument in the hall where the acoustics were booming . Although I was a musical illiterate and completely ignorant of music theory, I would sit in the hallway and jam with Al Dimeola records. Some of the best compliments I received were from people who told me they thought my playing was part of the record, although I was under no illusions about being as good as Al. At that time, when I played in the hall, I played for my soul's salvation. From where I sat on the stairs I could see the drug dealer's door on the floor below where people would come for coke and heroin. One time while I was playing, I watched as a guy ran up to the door, obviously in an hysterical jones for dope and I could see him lift his hand to knock on the door, but heard me playing, stopped, relaxed and listened. He repeated this twice more, then walked around the corner of the staircase looked up at me and said:"You a bad motherfucker". He made my day, because he heard me through dope sickness.I will never forget that moment because I touched someone in the midst of tremendous suffering who took the time out of their pain to acknowledge me.
Al is a true " master class " guitarist and has developed his own unique flavour . Mediterranean Sundance is an excellent instrumental . Al is a Purest .
First heard his amazing playing in 1974 Return to Forever. I was blown away at his skill. Been a fan ever since. At the time I even had a 1960 Les Paul Custom.
I was so lucky to see Return to Forever play together in the late 70's. That concert left a huge impression on me because I sat right in front in the pit and watched Stanley Clark, Chick Corea, Lenny White and Al yell at each other with their instruments on one of the Jams, truly remarkable!!
I first found Mr Di Meola when I came across a recording of the 1988 Montreal Jazz Festival. I became an immediate fan. For those who have have not seen this show, it’s on RU-vid and in my opinion a “must see”.
Al's rules of composition are uniquely his own while he continues to give honor to his family heritage. My all-time favorite album is his Telarc recording. The engineering, orchestration...everything was par excellence!
I remember the first time I heard Al Di Meola, I was shocked that I had never heard of him! But instantly loved his style and work! As always Joe, great interview!💫
@@fretbuzz59 I would refer to him as a Fusion player. He more than 'shreds'. And big vocabularies (and toupees but I digress) often reveal insecurities. But then again, insecurity is what makes male guitarists 'shred' (and some female guitarists too). I had to be the fastest and most accurate... before I realized that it was almost insignificant compared to the ability to simply create good music. But when music is elaborate and 'impressive' enough, millions of nerds are guaranteed to buy it, regardless of inspiration or the lack thereof.
Great music, good to hear from Al, Chick was in Portland OR last year and performed his Symphony. it was amazing. I was lucky enough to see Al playing with him back then in years gone past. Keep playing on Al !! You are one of the best musicians I have seen to be able to blend with his style of music. it was fun to watch you play the Guitar, Sing, et all with the band back in the day. Keep on playin for us!
Another great interview, I like most when you ask the musicians about their gear, and those old pictures and album cover shots are a nice touch and must always continue, nice work y'all!
Nice interview Joe! Al Di Meola is for sure one of the all time great Jazz guitarist. Extremely talented musician & the fact that he is still performing speaks for itself.....👍👍🎸🎸
Return To Forever, the greatest instrumental 1970's FUSION band of all time. Al Di Meola was simply mesmerizing with his Les Paul and wide open Marshall Stacks. Blessed to have seen RTF at the Berkeley Community theater in the mid 1980's one of their last live gigs. Third row center Lenny White stage left, Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola and Chick Corea stage Right from the audience. 3+ hours of non stop music. Unbelievable music and musicianship.
Child prodigy, at the forefront of Jazz Fusion with Return to Forever, can pick notes clean at the speed of light, basically coined his own musical vocabulary. Been following him since the early 70s when I saw him with RTF. Went to a music clinic in Nashua, NH in the 70s where he signed my copy of Elegant Gypsy. Yeah, I'm a fan :-)
From the sound of his music I always assumed Al was from Spain or Italy, not Jersey! Loved rocking out to Electric Rendezvous back in the day - and that still gets played every year or so. Loved seeing his influences... As a kid I loved Ventures, Beatles, and since then enjoying and playing(guitars- elect/acous, mando)everything from bluegrass to metal. Great interview. Appreciate Al more than ever.
Boy, I love that album. That one and TOUR DE FORCE LIVE, which is almost a Jan Hammer live album based on the amount of killer lead playing he lays down on it.
Thnx Joe you have given me an insight into so many new musicians for me that I would never have know. It has enriched my enjoyment of listening to music, as you say from the back stories. Thnx most sincerely as always. Just awe inspiring
A shoutout to Al's incredibly cool writing! Elegant Gypsy and Casino albums, among others, wouldn't be what they are without Al's delightful compositions.
Certainly one of the best interviewers of musicians. I always enjoy your videos! You know how to talk with the artists and not over them. And you always do your homework!
Quite interesting, I remember Al mentioning Doc Watson before. I don't think I have ever heard him play a single lick that is kind of rootsie/bluesy. Of course conscious decision and the music is different he plays =)
And they called EC God :) sorry, not sorry. Bought LOMS when it was new. Saw Al open for Weather Report, Winterland. A fave player not mentioned, Carlos Santana for the encore. Later, The Trio second run, Davies with Steve Morse. unforgettable.
I bought one of his vids years ago when I was first learning, he was never a string bender, I found my way bending strings, learning the fretboard with scales
What a heavyweight! Part of the Italian American Jazz guitar culture of the greats such as Eddie Lang, Joe Pass, the Pizzarellis, Don Arnone, Frank Vignola and luthiers like John D’Angelico, Jimmy D’Aquisto, Chris Mirabella, John Benedetto, etc.
Be good to ask him about the Passion, Fire and Grace days. He also produced Stanley Jordan's first solo album. Asking him about his first exposure to Stanley Jordan would be interesting.
I didn't know Al was from Jersey City NJ great access to the music scene many groups came from JC, Cool and the Gang. Wow happy to learn and hear this yes I lived and loved living on JC work in WTC before 9/11 took lessons in East Ruaterford NJ that was also a jazz influenced place many NYC jazz greats traded guitars were I took lessons and when the owner a great friend had desided tongive me a new teacher from Juliard the kid gave me great encouragement and took me to another level th3n I got a divorce my 2o4le turned upside down and now strive desperately to find that place inside once again dat dream for now iO learned what the blues was all about honestly the gut wrenching tear your heart out music I cherish but I consider the bands I love cross overs I love southern rock country rock gospel I grew up on love to sign and harmonize as well looking to pull myvdream together in the next fe3 months and look up a couple of brothers from my younger years to pull this off wish a mission and a vision of projecting love for life and the values God has established in my heart to share this musically not sure if writing a lot will be the case O have music theory training in high school and writing experience as well but there is lots of soul and love others have written classics everyone knows and to me I cool heading down that path building a studio and getting a childhood hero hopefully to join this effort who has had great success Im not mentioning names O tayher bot do that and be humble one of the valuable lessons I have learned the hard way God Bless thank you for this great inspirational video
A good interviewer ask questions he/she may already know or think they know but you should always assume the audience doesn’t know. If the viewers already know the answers why do the interview. Also like I said... if you ask the question you may learn something. I also fail to see the “ disaster” you say happened. He said he used a pick as well as fingers. What’s your issue?
