I remember hearing this in a small music shop where I live in Australia (Victoria, Croydon) The shop owner played this for a customer (just a sample of what they were about to purchase) Al started the lick that Built up speed and then came that scream (just after that stopped the music and sale was made) I knew then and there I had to get this Got the store owner to order it in (CD version), two weeks later I came out of the store and place it in my CD Walkman and was blown away Best musical choice I had made and extremely glad I ordered the cd This is the song I play to my friends who think acoustic guitars can’t cut it (My metal, punk and hard core friends all ready know this album, they listen to it for the virtuoso playing being guitarist themselves) It’s the ones who listen to top 40 and basic strumming on acoustic guitars I stun. “That’s what can be done on that guitar and it’s a hell of a lot more than strumming” is what I tell them Their perspective is changed, to me they now understand what good music is and now know what can be done with a acoustic guitar.
This was the first album on CD that I ever bought. Got it for myself for Christmas in 1985. I 'll be playing it today, all day. Adios, Paco. Thank you for all the lovely music.
This song - this version - represents one of the reasons I love music so much. It has been a great part of me since adolescence. I couldn't believe what I heard the first time. So much beauty and so much talent is amazing. Thank you Paco de Lucía, for so many beautiful moments recorded. Those moments stay with us and elevate humanity in a significant way.
You wrote it much better than I ever could but I had the same experience and feeling. This explains why I had to see Paco playing live so many times, each time an almost mystical experience. I still praise my girlfriend for having offered me that record when I was 16: She is still my wife 44 years later!
Unequalled, unsurpased. An utter master of his craft, probably the greatest player of all of our lifetimes and the one player I guarantee would make any guitarist's jaw drop. I shall get stoned and listen to Med Sundance later in memory- still, 24 yrs after I heard it, stunning. RIP Great Man.
After reflecting on the passing of Paco de Lucia , lets not be sad. Let's rather be joyful, ecstatic even, that such artists exist to leave us their enormous and irreplaceable legacy.
I have seen this trio live twice. The first time at a small venue at Queens College in NYC and was BLOWN AWAY. To actually watch how easily they make it seem was incredible. The complex composition was flowing from their fingertips with ease. This rendition of the song is not only my favorite version but my all time favorite song from them
I'd seen both DiMeolla and McGlauglin live in the '70's. Both of them left me in awe, flushed with endorphins and high on music played like I'd never heard it before. I even used McGlaughlin's "Noonward Race" as the intro music to a 9-12 radio show I did in Houston. Then, years later, I discovered this on CD (the vinyl is all in the hands of collectors). I introduced it to huge numbers of people while selling audio gear, many of whom, if they were guitarists would joke they were "going home to burn my guitar". But the truth is, they inspired untold thousands. I'd listen to Paco, and say, "He's doing that with just his fingers, no pick." "It's not humanly possible." R.I.P. Paco. You shared your joy and flamenco with a world which will never forget you, honoring your culture, your people and gifting me and many others, with transcendent grace.
Esta maravilla me cautiva. Me emociona. Me transporta. Inevitable no acordarse y no venir a escucharla el maldito día que el gran Paco nos ha dejado. Descansa en paz, maestro
I am very saddened by the loss of Paco. "Friday Night in San Francisco" was one of the those live albums that took my appreciation of music to a new level. RIP Paco de Lucia, you will be sorely missed!!
I first heard this piece when the album FRIDAY NIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO was released back in the '80s. It changed my life. This entire album is one of my top ten desert island discs. I've given away more copies of this album than any other (actually, people refused to return my copy after I lent it to them! Ha!) I'm so glad this lineup was caught on film back in the day. I used to watch Paco on Public Broadcast Television (PBS) in the States back in the late 1970s. He's one of the reasons I started playing guitar. This album gave him world wide recognition. I could listen to this forever.
Al Dimeola infravalorated in this case. The two songs and the two guitarrists were made like a perfect marriage. Nothing as beautiful as this piece. McLaughlin is the cherry on the pie in Fridays Night recording...
As a young lad, I traveled to Europe, to Spain, in search of Flamenco. Walking those mythical streets for hours, I stumbled upon Calle (Street) Ilustracion #7....the home of Paco de Lucia. I bravely, yet nervously, rang the bell and his lovely mother, Lucia, welcomed me in, escorting me to where Paco was studying in the back sunroom. With food & drink at hand...a typical Mediterranean custom I knew so very well as a Hellene ( Greek ), we spoke and played what seemed like hours and, at the end, promised that I would arrange a concert for him in Chicago. We bonded immediately then. He offered to teach me in Algeciras ( his summer home ).....yet ,foolishly, I became entangled with a beautiful young lady from South Africa...GRAVE MISTAKE. Paco later on said that he would have stayed with that "Mujer", too ! Before I left Spain, he made me promise a concert in Chicago and I agreed. Years passed, when back in Chicago, I established the Classical & Flamenco Guitar Studies at the Guitar Dept. at the famed "Arlington School of Music", in Arlington Heights, IL. With these credentials, I worked up enough courage to approach famed Impresario Harry Zelzer of Allied Arts Corp at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and, as he quibbled ( money, of course ) with Paco's International Impresario Sol Hurok in New York city, I persuaded both of them to bring Paco de Lucia to Chicago for a gala concert. Zelzer even agreed to bring the fabulous Sabicas (The King of the Flamenco Guitar) also...on the same Guitar Concert Series including Andres Segovia. I called Sabicas in New York....alas no answer. This proved to be the greatest "Guitar Series" in Chicago's History! I called Paco long distance (no cell phones then) and he told me his agent informed him of his Chicago debut. Paco then told me to grab my guitar and preceded in working with me on "Entre Dos Aguas" as I was holding the phone, glued to my chin...for over an hour. No cell phones then....Ouch! “Que No... Hombre !” "NO NO... La Menor 7 (a minor 7)"...Paco would scream. “No Maldita Sea. JUGAR CORRECTAMENTE....TU MARICON !! ( how rude ). This went on for 30 minutes more until he was satisfied with my results. He arrived in Chicago and, staying at my apartment, we played all night. The next day , we drove to Orchestra Hall on Michigan Ave, and rehearsed there with the sound and lighting engineers. That evening, Paco played flawlessly to the utter shock of the audience...top professional Guitarists from all corners of the United States, Canada and Mexico.....riveted into their seats. They never heard a guitar sound so explosive, so emotional, so flawless technically.... so Espanol...so Gitano! It came time for his last piece..."Entre Dos Aguas" and I walked onto that immortal stage and accompanied him to the never ending screams of the audience... the "Latinos.... y Latinas" …. in dance form... drowning out our performance with perpetual "OLE'S !" That following day, at the airport, Paco asked me to join him on his tour across the Southeastern USA. This is when I was reborn. This is where my career began.....getting to know the intimate Paco, his loves and fears, the secrets of his monstrous technique, phrasing and study habits. Years later, Paco called and informed me of his new affiliation with AL Di Meola and John McLaughlin in their "Friday Night in San Francisco Tour" at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre...a legendary concert hall with perfection in Acoustics. I arrived at that afternoon's rehearsal and noticed Paco's sound was awful...couldn't hear the guitar. Without thinking, I ran back home, retrieved my Sennheiser Mic Paco used at Orchestra Hall, years before, to the utter satisfaction of Paco and the sound engineer...… ( try talking your way out of a speeding ticket with an Illinois State Trooper.) Night came, audience brimming with young eager, guitarists, whether Rockers, Jazz Pros, Country Artists from Nashville or famed Classical guitarists , they were all there waiting to get a glimpse of this......."Paco de Lucia". Lights dimmed to the constant rustling of hungry youth...then...it happened......ALL HELL BROKE LOSE! Well ! ...This "Paco de Lucia" simply exploded with "The Face of An Angel And With The Technique of A Demon" The audience gasped, going wild with hundreds and hundreds of cigarette lighters ablaze in hand, to the sound of "The Holy Three". "Musical History Had Been Made !" The next morning, I drove Paco and John to the airport...said our goodbyes in Hellenic-Hispanic Style...and promised that we would attend each other's funeral who would die first. That was the last time I saw Paco. Sadly, he died first and I angrily realized that my passport had expired, at the last minute. It was too late for me to go. I was incarcerated in my home, shocked and immobile upon hearing of his death.... my life with Paco flashing before my eyes. After all this time, and after these many, many years looking back.... I can only say......"Paco!" "Hermano" "Escuchame !"......"When it is my time to enter the Pearly Gates of Heaven (if I get there, that is) ...I'm bringing that Sennheiser Mic with me......we"ll jam all night”. “The entire Universe will hear you again....LIVE! “ "Esperame, mi Amigo!" “Wait for me, My friend" Memories!
I just heard an interview with Al Di Meola. He said there is a Saturday Night in San Francisco coming out in June. All of the songs will be new ones, songs cut from the recording of the Friday Night Show. The interview was with Rick Beato and it is fun listening to him talk about being between John and Paco and their differing views, also Al being the kid of the bunch. It's a loooong interview but at least find the part about this time in his career.
Easily the greatest performance ever given. So much talent for one stage to handle. 1:51 always leaves my jaw open in shock. Al di Meola is a master. Nothing will ever compare to Paco and Al.
DESCANSA EN PAZ QUERIDO PACO... NOS QUEDA LA TRISTEZA EN LAS CUERDAS, PERO LA ALEGRIA EN EL CORAZON DE HABER DISFRUTADO TANTO TU MUSICA..... Y LO QUE AUN NOS QUEDA EN EL RECUERDO QUE SEGUIREMOS DISFRUTANDO... A ESO, LA MUERTE NO PODRA GANARLE.... !!! QUE TENGAS UN VIAJE CON MUCHA LUZ.... !!!!
WOW that was great to watch. I've been listen to this on LP and CD since 1992, and I have tried playing this number on guitar hundreds of times. I never knew this concert was recorded on movie.
this is the actual show, the lp is edited. And sped up a tiny bit as well. Still the best live guitar ever recorded. Ever. 30 years later - this still owns everything out there, and these guys can still pull it off, if a bit less articulate. So adept and so melodic. Count your blessings to enjoy this - we will not see players like this for a long time.
Ogni volta che vedo questo video rimango affascinato dall'eleganza del tocco di quelle corde e dalla semplicità con cui scorre la mano su quel manico di chitarra. Io penso che persone così abbiano come unico limite la loro fantasia. Con le loro dita riescono ad esprimere quello che vogliono. Credo anche che per suonare certi pezzi raggiungano uno stato di estasi che permette loro di annullarsi per diventare un insieme unico con la chitarra. PAZZESCO. BRAVISSIMI
Us guitarists (and music lovers in general) have marveled at the mastery of these two musicians millions of times over the last 40-odd years. Yet they're just having fun. I would give an eye to have that level of fun playing guitar!
Regarding the playing of "la guitarra", even in death, Paco is still "The Man" Leaving behind a standard of guitar musicianship that many will spend a lifetime attempting to equal, but few, if any, will achieve
I should have done better paying more attention to those due..but. I was younger and trying to absorb the music in this country (Brazil) Now on the other hand I have more time and will try to absorb the magic of Paco's music..
Paco de Lucía:"Cuánta necesidad de conocerte, cuánta valía el no conocerte, cuánta muerte y no perderte-millones de llantos estoy escuchando ya, pero tu música no morirá" QEPD.
One of the best record in my huge collection. Absolutely epic performances. But unfortunately a little part only of this magic concert was issued on LP. I am still looking for more on record
Raw, acoustic fusion! Neither McLaughlin nor di Meola were never ever a peer to Paco on acoustic guitar, but this collaboration was extraterrestrial. A steel strung american Ovation and a gut strung spanish Cordoba.
Una hermosa cancion de Di Meola con el sabor de Lucía que toca unas escalas y notas que te transportan hacía Andalucía y esa influencia otomana y árabe....cuando escuchas esta versión te das cuenta que era lo que le faltaba al track del disco.....BRAVO!
@@musicazen8558 The intro is called Mediterranean Sundance, and was composed by Al, and recorded by both Al and Paco for Al's 77 album Elegant Gypsy. The rest of the song is Rio Sancho by Paco, recorded in 76. They joined both songs toguether, and they both share the same middle chord progression, using the spanish cadence (Im, VIIb, VIb, V).
R.I.P. Paco De Lucia. I remember listening to this on CD then watching this video. My mind was blown away! Brilliant and magical. I consider them the original "shredders" and "G3". Yes, celebrate his legacy!
I was at the San Francisco performance that ended up on the album. It was something special, for sure. We hit Led Zeppelin, the Stones, the Tubes (at Bimbo's 365 Club, in their heyday!) etc, in those days. Not to mention Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, Sam Kinnison et al at the stand-up comedy clubs... special days in SF!
If aliens ever decide to destroy planet earth this album will save us. How human beings can create this gives us a reason worth saving. Some of the greatest artistry ever created
Alguien analizó la fuerza de Paco...que después de acompañar a Al por 3 ciclos es capaz de tocar con una rapidez y potencia extraordinaria...sin desmerecer lo máster de Al pero Paco a otro nivel. 💪
sometimes i imagine this would be awesome in a spaghetti western two bad ass guitarists dueling it out near the end of the movie in some old windswept desert town. god damn that would be cool to see
good god man, I...I want to play like that guy man, i'm very musically oriented and i can't begin to describe just how awesome i feel just by listening to this
Today, Paco de Lucia one of the great Spanish and International guitar os us said goodbye forever, do talk with their fingers his guitar and music composition has every greeted us without speaking the same. Thanks, Paco de Lucia (RIP)
Al tocar con los dedos paco tiene mas control sobre el volumen de lo que toca. con la uñeta a esa velocidad pierdes control de las cuerdas. de otro planeta, el mejor.
I've heard a few versions of this and this is the best ; the synchronisation here is almost beyond belief. Those plectrum runs by Al are such a contrast to the Flamenco percussive slap-playing of Paco ( the cheeky beggars go atonal at several points in tribute to Django ). Who is faster ? Al, but who cares. But who is more tasteful ? Paco to my ear. You won't hear any improvisation that is more musical ; and the tune is great too ! Well rehearsed improvisation that is.
