ELEGANT GYPSY

I´ve listened a lot to the nineties albums from Al Di Meola like Orange and Blue, Heart of the Immigrants, Di Meola plays Piazzolla, Infinite Desire and his World Sinfonia albums, but never heard any of his seventies albums. Allthough this album is in the same spanish style jazz/ fusion genre as most of this nineties albums it´s a bit more intense and generally faster paced. It´s something I think suits Al Di Meola very well as some of this nineties songs tend to be a little too easy listening like ( incredibly complex easy listening).

The sound quality which is really great and the incredible musicianship on this album makes this an excellent experience. Prog heads not into jazz/ Fusion should take a listen here as this might convert some of you.

Tracks like Flight Over Rio, Mediterranean Sundance and Race With Devil On Spanish Highway ( which are my favorite tracks) are fantastic songs, exstremely well written and performed. There is not a dull moment in these wonderful songs. Try and listen to some of Al Di Meola´s soloes in Flight Over Rio or in Race With Devil On Spanish Highway. He is so incredibly fast and yet it sounds great and not forced. This is not speed for speeds sake, it just fits in the songs so well. The acoustic piece Mediterranean Sundance were Paco De Lucia guests is also outstanding and very beautiful.

The rest of the songs are not as good as the ones I have already mentioned, (even though they are very good) and of course this means that I don´t think this is a complete masterpiece even though it comes close. So this is a 4 star album for me, but a very big one. I can´t wait to hear more from Al Di Meola´s early years.