ANTHOLOGY (1975-1982)

I have just added this very comprehensive 2-CD compilation to the site because it is a perfect introduction to Al Di Meola, I presume the recent 5 stars ratings for the "Elegant gypsy" album must have evoked some excitement for those progheads who are not familiar to the music from Al Di Meola! This compilation spans the time between 1975 and 1982, his most interesting period. Al Di Meola his guitar sound is very spectacular: fiery, powerful and often very speedy featuring howling and biting soli, propulsive riffs, exciting accellarations and his distinctive 'deading of the strings', GREAT! He used to work with known and virtuosic musicians, from Jan Hammer and Jaco Pastorius to Simon Phillips and Phil Collins!

"Anthology" contains all the 'classic' tracks like "Land Of The Midnight Sun" (swinging and dynamic with splendid interplay between guitar, electric piano and the rhythm section, an exciting percussive break and a captivating duel between the Minimoog and guitar), "Race With Devil On Spanish Highway" (spectacular propulsive rhythm and catchy guitar riffs and swirling interplay between guitar and keyboards), "Elegant Gypsy Suite" (wonderful Spanish flavor with acoustic guitar and string-ensemble from Al Di Meola), "Medley: Short Tales Of The Black Forest/Fantasia suite for two guitars" (virtuosic interplay between acoustic guitar, marimba and electric piano), "Alien Chase On Arabian Desert" (spectacular Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer sound and a sultry climate delivering a sensational duel between the guitar and Minimoog), "God Bird Change" (swinging and dynamic rhythm with again great interplay between electric guitar, keyboards and percussion and an exciting percussive break on conga's from Mingo Lewis), "Electric Rendezvous" (sensational atmosphere, very catchy and dynamic featuring howling electric guitar and flashy Minimoog flights from Jan Hammer), "Egyptian Dance-live" (also very dynamic and exciting) and "Crusin'-live" (sounds like The Mahavishnu Orchestra delivering splendid work from Al Di Meola and Jan Hammer). The track "Sequencer" features fiery electric guitar and Jan Hammer on the famous Fairlight computer delivering a catchy sequencer sound, this evokes the time that Jan Hammer worked with Jeff Beck on "Wired". On the short "Bianca's midnight lullaby" Al Di Meola plays romantic acoustic guitar. This compilation includes four previously unreleased tracks, the final two on CD2 are recorded in Holland in 1982 ("Al Di's Dream Theme" and "Theme To The Mothership").

IF YOU ARE UP TO EXCITING PROGRESSIVE JAZZROCK/FUSION WITH SENSATIONAL GUITAR AND KEYBOARD WORK, THIS 2-CD IS A MUST!!

Okay, okay -- he's fast, he's suave, slick, and oh so technically clean. Di Meola's furious, flamenco, fandango, fusion guitar work stands alone. Very few have really ever gained exact echoes of his style. That muted percussive staccato riffage with explosive lead breaks and sudden stop-n- go colorings of tone and note texture have always been impressive. Most folks came to know "Al D" via Return To Forever. He replaced Bill Connors. This gave a RTF a very different feel guitar-wise. Al D's style seemed to mesh very naturally with Chick Corea's leanings towards that Latin American and Spanish heart of things. Others came to discover Al D upon hearing his solo releases. I will have to say that to this day, my fav will always be his debut solo effort with Land of the Midnight Sun. Al D was trying so hard early on to express his own song-writing voice and excel on his instrument. An earnest, vital effort pours through everywhere. And so this 2CD anthology begins perfectly with the best cuts from that debut. I indeed purchased all Al D's releases year by year just to see how he would progress. This anthology fortunately represents most of the strongest songs from these solo works. What has bothered me about many of Al D's tunes from album to album was a certain predictable manner in riffs, song flow, and voicings. Al D has always had this leaning towards a . . . "balladic, romantic adventure, conquering hero saga" . . . song flow with latin rhythms, smooth jazz breaks, then crunch and overdrive guitars, and then back to that late-day stroll on the veranda kind of feel. Catch my drift? When I was seeking harder fusion and jazz rock leanings, I had to endure extended world jazz and romantic guitars. But hey -- many folks flocked to this mix and how sweet it was for Al D. Most of the cuts on both CDs represent some truly fine historic jams and superb fusion interplay betwixt the likes of Phil Collins, Jaco, Jan Hammer, Simon Phillips, Alphonse Mouzon, Anthony Jackson, and Lenny White to mention a few. Both discs feature unreleased live material. Four tracks of twenty are a brand new bonus listen. I found Al D doing "Theme To The Mothership" pretty interesting. An excess of Al Di Meola collections and best of's are circulating out there but you're most likely doing a best service to your ears just grabbing this one. There is more than enough of Al D here to satisfy.

Lately there was a thread on the Forum about Underrated Guitarists, immediately Al DiMeola came to my mind, although he is hailed by his fellow musicians. I checked the Internet and indeed, in most of the Best Guitarists Of All Time polls he is hardly to find in the Top 50, because it's often more about popular rock guitarists, like Eddie van Halen, Angus Young and The Edge.

Al DiMeola started to play guitar at an early age and used to practise between 8-10 hours a day. He was very inspired by Larry Coryell, Al loved his blending of jazz, blues and rock. At the age of 19 he joined the legendary fusion formation Return To Forever (with Chick Corea, Stanly Clarke and Lenny White), after the band disbanded Al DiMeola started a solo carreer, in 1976. In 1980 he played in a jawdropping acoustic trio with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, I have seen this trio two times, "a wet dream for guitar aficionados!".

I consider Al Di Meola his guitar sound as unique and spectacular: fiery, powerful and often very speedy featuring howling and biting soli, propulsive riffs, exciting accellarations and his distinctive 'deading of the strings'. He collaborated with excellent musicians, from Jan Hammer and Jaco Pastorius to Simon Phillips and Phil Collins.

This compilation contains all the 'classic' tracks and also includes four previously unreleased tracks, the final two on CD-2 are recorded in Holland, in 1982 (Al Di's Dream Theme and Theme To The Mothership).

My highlights.

Land Of The Midnight Sun : swinging and dynamic with splendid interplay between guitar, electric piano and the rhythm section, an exciting percussive break and a captivating duel between the Minimoog synthesizer and guitar.

Race With Devil On Spanish Highway : spectacular propulsive rhythm and catchy guitar riffs and swirling interplay between guitar and keyboards.

Elegant Gypsy Suite : wonderful Spanish flavor with acoustic guitar and string-ensemble from Al Di Meola.

Medley: Short Tales Of The Black Forest/Fantasia suite for two guitars : virtuosic interplay between acoustic guitar, marimba and electric piano.

Alien Chase On Arabian Desert : spectacular Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer sound and a sultry climate delivering a sensational duel between the guitar and Minimoog.

God Bird Change : swinging and dynamic rhythm with again great interplay between electric guitar, keyboards and percussion and an exciting percussive break on conga's from Mingo Lewis (I knew this music from The Tubes live).

Electric Rendezvous : sensational atmosphere, very catchy and dynamic featuring howling electric guitar and flashy Minimoog flights from Jan Hammer.

Egyptian Dance-live : also very dynamic and exciting, trademark Al DiMeola solo work.

Crusin'-live : it sounds like The Mahavishnu Orchestra delivering splendid work from Al Di Meola and Jan Hammer.

Sequencer : features fiery electric guitar and Jan Hammer on the famous Fairlight computer delivering a catchy sequencer sound, this evokes the time that Jan Hammer worked with Jeff Beck on the classic fusion album Wired.

Bianca's Midnight Lullaby : Al Di Meola plays romantic acoustic guitar, the mellow side of his varied guitarplay.

For those who are into jazzrock, fusion and guitar-oriented music this compilation is a must, but I am sure lots of progheads who like powerful guitar and spectacular keyboards in dynamic and alternating compositions will be delighted. In my opinion Al DiMeola is an overlooked artist on Prog Archives, especially his 1976-1982 work is worth to discover, scouting the borders between jazzrock/fusion and progressive rock.