FRIDAY NIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO

An inspiring live performance in 1981 by three great guitarists, that every guitar lover must hear. The late Paco de Lucia is one of my all-time favorite guitarists. Fast, virtuosic, passionate, and innovative he was, and so open minded to blend the art of flamenco with other genre (like his collaboration with Al Di Meola, Larry Coryell, John McLaughlin and Chick Corea). The other two, Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin are definitely among best jazz fusion guitarists in recent time.

'Mediterranean Sundance / Rio Ancho' is an ensemble track consisting of two compositions: Mediterranean Sundance (Al Di Meola ' Elegant Gypsy 1977) and Rio Ancho (Paco de Lucia ' Almoraima 1976). This collaborative version is performed by both of them. The blend of flamenco and jazz, is just perfect. Al plays steel strings while Paco plays nylon strings, with their very own unique style: Paco's powerful picados and rasgueados strum, combined with Al's super-fast picking and palm muted style.

It is a very beautiful track, and the best track in this record in my opinion that I think has become a classic for acoustic guitar. There are a lot of other versions of this composition, even the one performed by Paco de Lucia and Larry Coryell. A good shorter version for more general audience was performed by all three of Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucia and John McLauhglin in Pavarotti charity concert in Modena, 1996 (Pavarotti and Friends for War Child ' Modena).

'Short Tales of the Black Forest' is a composition by Chick Corea for 1976 Al Di Meola's Land of the Midnight Sun. Al performed this with John McLaughlin. The guitar dialogue they make is very playful and exciting (including a short funny moment where they play a phrase of Henry Mancini's Pink Panther theme and subsequent blues improvisation).

'Frevo Rasgado' (from Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti) is performed by Paco and John. This is a more difficult composition, but the theme is very nice. Paco and John make a wonderful harmony. It seems to me that they both beautifully adapt their style (respectively flamenco and fusion) to get South American flavor (that what this composition is about).

'Fantasia Suite' is performed by all three guitarists, the last live track of the album. This is Al's composition (from 1978 'Casino'), consists of four parts that gives a lot of rooms for each of them to perform solo. The end part is glorious, with all three perform a fast picking phrase and strumming.

'Guardian Angel' is also performed by three guitarists, but recorded in the studio. Not as exciting as the live tracks, but still a lot of great phrases in this song.

The beauty of this album is about how they interact to each other, so much fun, so much virtuosity and excitement.

This is not a classical concert or guitar recital with particular etiquette for audience. This is a musical feast, a celebration of the guitar instrument where three guitars dance and talk to each other, and where audiences are free to express their amazement to many great licks and solos.

Requiescat in pace - Paco de Lucia