CONSEQUENCE OF CHAOS

This album should be considered as a masterpiece: we're talking about Al Di Meola, not only one of the finest fusion guitarists ever, but a complete artist, which own what every great musician possess: Taste in musical choices, technical skills, arrangement mastering; all of these qualities are shown in this work released in 2006: Consequence Of Chaos. This album is proposed as an Al Di Meola return to the electric guitar, which is true, anyway also the very well known Di Meola capabilities in playing the acoustic guitar are predominant. Consequence Of Chaos moreover features incredible musical talents such as Chick Corea on piano and Keyboards, John Patitucci on bass and Steve Gadd on drums. The interplay between the musicians is IMPRESSIVE ( example: listen to the Di Meola ascendent scales overdubbed by Chick's Piano on "Tempest) As usual the music is latin influenced, in a quite impressive way, I'm referring to songs like "Torquoise", "Azucar", "Africana Suite", anyway to a level which is incredibly high.

A musical masterpiece, a joy for your ears. 5 Stars.

Al Di Meola's latest album Consequence of Chaos is an album not to be missed by any Jazz fusion fan. A very latin influenced album that features great musicians like drmmer Steve Gaad, Return to Forever buddy Chick Corea on piano,and John Patitucci on bass. Some of my favorite tracks are the opener San Marco,Turquoise, Red Moon, Azucar and The Tempest. As usual Al Di Meola's guitar is like no other and he is surrounded by world class musicians. Another great release by one of the finest guitarist ever to play, this is real music. This one is not as quite as good as the great Elegant Gypsy but it is up there with his best work. 4 stars

Di Meola returns with his best work since the seventies. It's almost as if he decided give up experimenting for the time being with African and Middle Eastern influences and just let it rip, Mediterranean style. He even brought many of his old fusion buddies on board, most notably keyboardists Miles and Corea. I don't know if they recaptured some old magic, but I at least hear a lot more interaction between the players, which is absolutely essential for instrumental music--and something his recent work has noticeably lacked.

This is not a concept album, but it does have an unmistakable cohesion and flow, with an excellent balance between uptempo blasts of intensity and mellow, tender portions. Di Meola also does a great job alternating between acoustic and electric guitars, often within the same song, to great effect: things rarely feel boring or repetitive. An excellent example is the opener, San Marco, a Latin-influenced toe-tapper that grabs you right at the moment di Meola's guitar enters. Other highlights include the excellent piano fills on TAO, the haunting closing melody to Azucar, the excellent percussion in Red Moon, and the old-fashioned di Meola shredding to be found on Tempest. Those are my personal highlights, but the entire album is solid throughout.

Overall, di Meola and company have really put together a quality album. To be honest, I wasn't sure it was still possible, but now I have the evidence in my CD changer, and I couldn't be happier to have been so wrong. The best part is that they are not simply copying their seventies fusion work; quite the contrary, as it sounds as if these musicians have truly matured over time.

The return to electric guitar

I have heard only most and not quite all of Al Di Meola's many solo albums, but I still think it is safe to say that Consequence Of Chaos is his best album since the amazing duo of Casino and Elegant Gypsy in the mid-70's. Indeed, in many ways the music on this album is a half-way meeting between the Jazz-Rock of those classic albums and the kind of World Fusion Di Meola has made since then. While he re-introduced his electric guitar already on some previous albums, Consequence Of Chaos sees him giving electric and acoustic guitars equal space for the first time. He often duels with himself on electric and acoustic which is amazing!

The most important aspect to the success of this album is that this time all the material is Di Meola's own; no Astor Piazzolla, no Return To Forever classics (though Chick Corea is present on piano). The material is impressive with many very memorable Jazz-Rock/Fusion compositions several of which sound like instant classics of the genre! Di Meola has really matured as a writer. There are many memorable passages and despite a running time of just over an hour, he manages to keep it mostly interesting throughout (even if I admit that it could have been shortened slightly to make the impact more direct).

Another important factor is the collaborative spirit on display here. This does not sound like a one man show anymore, but there is a strong band feeling. All in all there are eight different people involved in this recording playing different instruments including various keyboards, bass, drums and different percussions as well as some more exotic instruments. There is a very appealing mix between acoustic instruments and electric ones as well as between the very modern and the classic. There are influences from Jazz, Latin, African and other styles. This music really takes you places!

The longest composition is over nine minutes and is probably also the most complex piece. However, it is not the best one here. Some of the shorter pieces are the highlights for me including the excellent opener San Marco (which also closes the album in a very different version).

If all you ever have heard from Al Di Meola is his first three solo albums, then Consequence Of Chaos is a great place to continue exploring and as such it is an excellent addition.

Finally!The so long and awaited new electric fusion album that all AL DI MEOLA fans were in wait for years and years!This CONSEQUENCE OF CHAOS proves thet the maestro didn't lost his abbilities and skills,but especially the passion to get back to his fusion roots and to make the magic again!Surrounded by some top class musicians,just take a look to the impressive list of the big names involved in the making of this album,it was practically impossible to have a bad release!Honestly,the expectations were very big,but fortunatelly,we are not at all dissapointed with the final result!Of course,the passion for classical guitar and flamenco and latino rhythms of Mr di Meola are still present,but essentially it's a modern fusion album,very diverse and catchy,focused on melody and composition,but with some very spectacular and efficient interventions from the musical aces that are on the album!Each track is so damn well executed and composed,we have the feeling that many versions for each song were made till the best one was choosed ,and Di Meola was very careful to the tiniest detail,to compose some compact and elaborated songs,with intelligent arrangements and a great percussion section!Rich instrumentation and superbe sounds for an album that has all ingredients of an accomplished and complete album!I really missed the electric sound of AL DI MEOLA and on this album we find the maestro on top of his form!Inspired and efficient,this album is a major success and we really wonder why he became more end more distant to the fusion progressive musical area in time?!?!Congratulations from the heart and we wait more in the future! 4,5 STARS,because I cannot forget the 3 first masterpieces from the RETURN TO FOREVER era!!!

Best Al Di Meola work during some last years. Chick Corea, John Patitucci, Steve Gadd and ADM New Sinfonia team all participated on this album. And most important - there are plenty of ADM electric guitar!

The music is not a jazz fusion of his early years, but world fusion. But differently from his early world fusion works (with New Sinfonia mostly), this work is not such acoustic melancholic Mediterranean music, but full-bodied electric African-Mediterranean songs, with beautiful melodies, difficult rhythms, excellent musicianship, with light jazzy feeling all around. Happily, I heard this musical material during ADM world tour, it sounded live as beautiful as it sounds on this recording.

Possibly, his best world fusion work, very recommended for all ADM fans. And those who loved his electric music some years ago, can easily try this work - you wouldn't be disappointed, I think.

The album was the first one I listened to by Al di Meola. Expecting fusion and straightforward fusion chops, it took me quite some time to get to appreciate it and to realize that fusion playing doesn't have to be rapid to remain credible. I was pleased, though, to hear a dominating electric guitar over acoustic one.

Take this as a world fusion album with more laid-back guitar, variety of rhythms and other instrument explorations and more attention to detail. There are more melodic tracks such as the first one "San Marc" that is clearly dominated by electric guitar or "Tao" We have longer tracks there that succeed in creating sunny world music atmosphere such as a great acoustic "Turquoise". We can hear Corea on piano on two compositionally non-distinctive and relatively short "Red moon" and "Cry for you". However, Corea's presence and Meola's motivated guitar lines raise the bar. Let's praise the high-quality rhythm section that marks the entire album. "Cry for you" is an acoustic duo fiddling piece, quite pleasing for ears even if not too memorable. "Tempest" is memorable for quite an intensive piano/guitar soloing. Overall, it's a good album and somewhat closer to classic fusion but more typical for late Meola's efforts.