Al Di Meola Featuring: Ernie Adams - Gumbi Ortiz - Mario Parmisano - Sturcz String Quartet – One Of These Nights / In-Akustik DVD 2005

UPC 707787700177

Made in EU

Albert Laurence Di Meola (born July 22, 1954) is an American guitarist. Known for his works in jazz fusion and world music, he began his career as a guitarist of the group Return to Forever in 1974. Between the 1970s and 1980s, albums such as Elegant Gypsy and Friday Night in San Francisco earned him both critical and commercial success.

This concert performance is excellent. This is a performance of his acoustic world music style, although the songs cover a wide range of his career including things he did on his electric.

From the time he steps on stage he is on fire. His band is tight, spontaneous and gets a huge sound for only a few musicians. The first few songs he does with the whole group including the string quartet and are nice. Then starting with Orient Blue he cuts loose on guitar with Gumbi Ortiz on congas and various percussion. He plays some really cool improve lines that show his blazingly fast, intricate and syncopated technique. Gumbi and Al get into a musical dialog and challenge each other, with Gumbi egging him on. This is worth the price of the DVD if you like virtuoso guitar work. Then they go on to play some more songs with the entire group off of various CDs. On Libertango Gumbi and Al get into it again for some spirited playing dialog.

- Jeff Tischer

Tracklist: