FLESH ON FLESH

Plain-spoken Meola's latest studio output "Flesh On Flesh" can't be called anything else than another sheer masterpiece by him. Quite typically it's an all instrumental one and contains a couple of the most interesting arrangements I've ever heard from him. Apart from five own compositions there's one by Egberto Gismonti ("Meninas"), Astor Piazzola ("Fugata" ) and one by his old band mate from RTF-times Chick Corea ("Senor Mouse"). There's another reunion here that is the one with bass player Anthony Jackson who didn't play together with him since the glorious days of "Elegant Gypsy". His powerful play is a large enrichment for the sound on this record. It's just awesome how Di Meola manages here to keep up a certain tension starting from the opener "Zona Desperata" right to the closing track "Senor Mouse". He's choosing the different sounds with a higher sensitivity than ever before, blending dark with bright and fiery with gentle. The tracks have been played with alternating line-up with a very rich instrumentation which is contributing even more to the diversified sound of this record. Actually I'm not aware of any other album by him being as versatile and therefore able to fascinate me as this one did but I've to confess that usually I don't prefer this lighter form of fusion. Anyway I think it should not only appeal to his fans but as well to lovers of jazz fusion and symphonic prog in general unless they're insisting to have a considerable proportion of rock in their Prog. There's no other choice than giving this album a 5-stars rating.