SPLENDIDO HOTEL

Al Di's fourth studio album as a bandleader performing and arranging on his own (mostly) compositions. The virtuosity is still at its peak, the choices of song varieties sometimes leaves a little room for investigation.

1. "Alien Chase On Arabian Desert" (8:59) such a proggy start grâce de Philippe Saisse.The crystalline clarity of Al's guitar tones (and their rendering by the engineer) is always something to applaud. Drummer Robbie Gonzalez and percussionist Eddie Colon are sure ensuring that this is a dynamic song. Interesting bass chord play from Tim Landers- -all the while Al trades off multiple stunning guitar riffs and solos between his multiple guitars and guitar sounds-- especially from those Egyptian/Spanish-sounding acoustic guitars. Impressive but, in the end, a little too wild and disjointed for my tastes. (17.75/20)

2. "Silent Story In Her Eyes" (7:35) multiple tracks of acoustic guitars playing within each other's domain leads to a wonderfully-tropical feeling ambiance. It doesn't hurt that Mingo Lewis, Anthony Jackson, Chick Corea, and Peter Cannnarozzi are helping out Al, Robbie, Phillippe, and Eddie. Awesome earworm melodies and guitar playing. There is just something wonderful about the seaside resort feeling being conjured up by this Caribbe-style music. If there is anything weak about this song it would be Anthony Jackson's clavinet-like sound given his bass (not his playing). But this is definitely Al showing his absolute mastery of melody at the same time as being an absolute virtuoso of his instrument. A top three song. (14.75/15)

3. "Roller Jubilee" (4:44) Phillippe Saisse and Al duelling on marimba and celesta, respectively, syrupy melodies and a surprising disco rhythm track from Steve Gadd and Anthony Jackson and the other keyboard players and percussionists. Sounds like The Beach Boys' "Kokomo" song. At the same time, I cannot find fault with either the composition or performances; it's just the style that stretches credibility for the J-R Fuse domain. Oh, and did I mention that Al Di Meola is a mighty impressive guitar player? (9/10) 4. "Two To Tango" (4:13) Chick Corea's second appearance on this album, here playing his piano strings (muting them) in duet with Al's steel stringed acoustic guitar--definitely exploring the tango form. One of those songs that helps me appreciate how the Tango is often included within the umbrella of classical musical styles. (8.75/10)

5. "Al Di`s Dream Theme" (6:50) a bit of a return to the delicious mood of the tropical cabana life of "Silent Story in Her Eyes"--at least for the opening 90-seconds: then it all goes funk conga-line dancing with some flaming electric guitar soloing alternating with some off-setting/balancing Moog work from Jan Hammer. If this is supposed to represent one of Al's dreams, it was truly a crazy, jumpy-staccato dream. Most of Al's extraordinary guitar reaches, runs, and flourishes are by now so rote and almost expected as to render them kind of boring. Oh well. Not every song but such a dynamic and talented artist can be ground-breaking and totally original. (13.125/15)

6. "Dinner Music Of The Gods" (8:33) another song whose rhythm construct feels forced, basic, and unfit for an Al Di Meola display. Also, I do not like this "distant" sound effect Al has chosen (predominantly) for his electric guitar. Some cool interplay between keys and percussion in the third minute before Al can figure out how best to play off of Anthony Jackson's bass around the four-minute mark (the beginning of the best section of the song). Great performances top to bottom in the fifth minute. I even love Phillippe Saisse's harpsichord playing off of Al's steel-string acoustic in the sixth minute, I'm just not sold (or enjoying) that bass riff perpetuated by Anthony Jackson over and over. This unknown drummer named Robbie Gonzalez sure is doing a nice job on this oddly-metered and -syncopated song. Not a pretty or melodic song compared to some other beauties but definitely a rollicky display of stellar musicianship. (18.25/20)

7. "Splendido Sundance" (4:51) No longer can Al find a guitarist good enough to match wits with, so he plays with himself--on several tracks. This would definitely have been a great song to do in the famous Trio format (as it was done in 1980, only never released until 2022). This version is much better. (9/10)

8. "I Can Tell" (4:01) an odd opening with the pop-jazz rock keyboard and funk bass opening. Then singing! Al can sing (sounding and engineering a bit like Narada Michael Walden). And he plays the drums! Not the greatest but not bad. (8.66667/10)

9. "Spanish Eye"s (5:11) opens like a Jimmy Webb song performed by Glen Campbell and Chet Atkins. (But it's Lester!) Interesting and delightful from an historical value. (Lester could play!) Again Steve Gadd is relegated to an odd job. (What a waste.) (When I saw Al and Jan Hammer on this tour Steve was by far the most impressive thing in both bands.) The classic song's music is, of course, a mere gimmick to setup Al and Les' interplay. A nice display of guitar virtuosity. Thank you, Al! (9.3333333/10)

10. "Isfahan" (11:35) opening with a children's choir singing a cappella (with pristine sound capture and engineering) for 100-seconds before a group of chamber strings enters to prep us for some of Al's acoustic guitar play. Though playing on his favored steel-stringed axe, the style he's using is at first quite different than what we've heard from him before: more Moorish than Spanish. But then, it is, apparently, Chick's song, which would explain a lot. I really like this song for its musical divergence from the rest of Al's stuff but it does diminish it a bit knowing that it's not his song; why didn't Chick just save this song for release on one of his own albums? (A version of it does exist on Chick's 1985 release Septet, but it's 13:47 long, considered "Third Stream" music (meaning it's a fusion of jazz with classical music or orchestration), and performed with flute, French horn, and string quartet (and very beautiful). This one is nice, displaying a side of Al that we don't get to see enough of (so far) but not as beautiful as Chick's fully-realised rendition of his composition. (18/20)

11. "Bianca`s Midnight Lullaby" (1:54) a pretty little ditty that doesn't sound like you'd play it in your child's bedroom but, rather, on the summer porch outside her bedroom window. (4.5/5)

Total Time: 68:26

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of guitar virtuosity on display within some pretty great compositions--especially "Silent Story in Her Eyes": one of my all-time favorite Al Di Meola songs. And don't miss getting to know a little of Les Paul's genius and talents on "Spanish Eyes" as well as Chick Corea's beautiful "Isfahan" composition.