Al DiMeola kills it

cycloptopus · 07-29-2009, 04:02 PM

Who's a fan? Al D is da man!

This is probably my favorite Al DiMeola tune and possibly one of my all time favorites from anyone.

Desi · 07-29-2009, 04:19 PM

I'm really getting into his stuff. Actually, I've been really curious about Jazz lately, so I've been watching youtube clips of peeps like Pat Metheny, Wes Montgomery, etc. I actually listened to that clip you posted just yesterday, and yes, it's awesome. Hey, if anyone has any recommendations on Al D albums, or many other Jazzers in general, please shoot. I'm really getting into this Jazz stuff.

jacksonplayer · 07-29-2009, 04:27 PM

The three Al DiMeola albums you should own are his first three:

Land of the Midnight Sun
Elegant Gypsy (this is a *must* own)
Casino

He's done a lot of great work since then, but much of his best work following Casino has been on acoustic, which where his heart mostly seems to be these days.

You should also pick up Return To Forever's The Anthology, which features Al on about 3/4 of the tracks, including all the tracks that were originally on the classic Romantic Warrior album. The other guitarist on The Anthology is Bill Connors, who is no slouch himself. Al joined RTF when he was only 19, and it shows in some of his early tracks, where he plays a bit tentatively and didn't have his sound down yet. But by Romantic Warrior he had the whole package together.

He's one of my all-time favorites, as you can tell.

You could do a lot worse than to study what he does, particularly his rhythmic precision. I'm pretty sure he was a *huge* influence on Petrucci.

tr0n · 07-29-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desi

Hey, if anyone has any recommendations on Al D albums, or many other Jazzers in general, please shoot. I'm really getting into this Jazz stuff.

I'd highly recommend Allan Holdsworth and Frank Gambale, but no doubt you know who they are already.

One guy you might not have heard of is Bireli Lagrene. I think he's one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) living guitar player. His techniques are just out of this world.

ShadyDavey · 07-29-2009, 04:47 PM

Both Al and Birelli are absolute monsters - I really need to listen to them more often

Quote:

The three Al DiMeola albums you should own are his first three:

Land of the Midnight Sun
Elegant Gypsy (this is a *must* own)
Casino

*nod*

Definately! Check out the Friday Night in San Francisco, Passion Grace and Fire recordings with Paco De Lucia and John McLaughlin as well.

kmanick · 07-29-2009, 04:54 PM

huge fan here, I saw Dimeola live at the Paradise theater in Boston way back in the early 80's.
blew me away then as he still does now.

Aysakh · 07-29-2009, 04:55 PM

I'm a fan, and his guitar is AWESOME

PRS Guitars - Al Di Meola Prism Signature Model

AvantGuardian · 07-29-2009, 04:56 PM

I remember my guitar teacher loaned me a copy of Elegant Gypsy when I was about 14. At the time I was just getting into shred, and I'm really glad I was introduced to DiMeola as well. That got me into a lot of cool fusion stuff as well. I really like the Return to Forever albums that DiMeola plays on.

Also, I've seen Bireli Lagrene live. That guy is incredible.

ShadyDavey · 07-29-2009, 04:58 PM

I don't know if its just that picture but it makes him appear to have an EPIC comb-over to rival Bobby Charlton....

onefingersweep · 07-29-2009, 05:10 PM

I'm a big fan, Di Meola is great, he has his own sound and style. A true legend!

BigPhi84 · 07-29-2009, 06:26 PM

I have Elegant Gypsy and I really love Al's style. Every time I hear the beginning of "Race With Devil on Spanish Highway" though, I think of People's Court. LOL.

The riff around 2:20 was "borrowed" by Liquid Tension Experiment.

cycloptopus · 07-30-2009, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigPhi84

I have Elegant Gypsy and I really love Al's style. Every time I hear the beginning of "Race With Devil on Spanish Highway" though, I think of People's Court. LOL.

Me too!! i was wondering if anyone would comment on that. But which came first? I don't know...but once the first run kicks in you know it ain't no people's court!

distressed_romeo · 07-30-2009, 07:21 AM

Al was a really big influence on me, mainly for his perceptions of rhythm and timing...really inspiring stuff, regardless of what style you play. On top of that, he really forced me to work at picking technique; I'm another one who spent ages practicing the 'Race With the Devil' lick.

One thing though, I do wish he'd get his tone sorted, as I've never really been a big fan of the tone he gets on record, on electric or acoustic.

Apophis · 07-30-2009, 07:36 AM

All is AWESOME, one of my main influences

OzoneJunkie · 07-30-2009, 08:41 AM

Love "Friday Night In San Francisco" and "Kiss My Axe" \o/

jacksonplayer · 07-30-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadyDavey

I don't know if its just that picture but it makes him appear to have an EPIC comb-over to rival Bobby Charlton....

Hey, it was the Seventies, and you could get away with that stuff. He's got a weave or hair transplants going on nowadays.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cycloptopus

i was wondering if anyone would comment on that. But which came first? I don't know...

"Race With Devil" came first, by several years. It's probably too late for Al to sue Judge Wapner, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by distressed_romeo

One thing though, I do wish he'd get his tone sorted, as I've never really been a big fan of the tone he gets on record, on electric or acoustic.

I love his tones on Elegant Gypsy and Casino--just classic Les Paul/Marshall precision snarl. I'm not big on his tone since he switched to PRS guitars, though. They just seem to muddy up his sound, considering how percussive his style is. The production on Land of the Midnight Sun is bad all the way around, so it's difficult to criticize his tones too much there--probably not much of a budget going on.

cycloptopus · 07-30-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacksonplayer

"Race With Devil" came first, by several years. It's probably too late for Al to sue Judge Wapner, though.

I knew it! I just couldn't confirm it, thank you. Oh how disappointed I'd be if it were the other way around...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacksonplayer

I love his tones on Elegant Gypsy and Casino--just classic Les Paul/Marshall precision snarl. I'm not big on his tone since he switched to PRS guitars, though. They just seem to muddy up his sound, considering how percussive his style is. The production on Land of the Midnight Sun is bad all the way around, so it's difficult to criticize his tones too much there--probably not much of a budget going on.

True. Especially cuz this was done in the 1970s. Crisp and tight with growl. Besides, this is a "jazz" guitar player and the music is fusion in the truest sense.

I saw Return to Forever last year and Al killed it. He's got Tinnitus now too, but you'd never know it the way he played. got the Fuchs amps too... Jersey rules!

jerry424 · 07-30-2009, 01:55 PM

I really like Mike Stern.
Greg Howe's fusion stuff is awesome too. I like the way he uses rock-like shred techniques to improvise his jazz stuff. I can't think of anyone else who does that as well as him.

kung_fu · 07-30-2009, 06:33 PM

I've been all about Jimmy Herring lately

You also might want to check out Jeff Beck, particularly "Wired" and "Blow by Blow". Here is a clip of his dvd Live At Ronnie Scott's. He's got a great band backing him up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadyDavey

I don't know if its just that picture but it makes him appear to have an EPIC comb-over to rival Bobby Charlton....

Among fusion guitarists, Al comes second only to Frank Gambale when it comes to scalp camouflage.

ShadyDavey · 07-30-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kung_fu

Among fusion guitarists, Al comes second only to Frank Gambale when it comes to scalp camouflage.

Friend of mine who teaches took a lot of courses at GIT in London and apparently whilst doing a clinic there poor Frank dropped a pick, bent to pick it up.......and left the carpet with a rug on it.

I couldn't help but laugh but then I remembered Frank Gambale > me by a ....ing long shot ^^

Allegedly Joe Stump and MAB are also long-term club members so it must have to do with excessive speed and possibly leather pants.

tr0n · 07-30-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadyDavey

Friend of mine who teaches took a lot of courses at GIT in London and apparently whilst doing a clinic there poor Frank dropped a pick, bent to pick it up.......and left the carpet with a rug on it.

I heard a similar story when I was at Guitar-X about Michael Angelo Batio, a couple of the teachers picked him up from the airport in an open top car on a windy day, and Michael was sat in the back with his hands behind his head as if he were reclining.

Did I just mention Batio in a Jazz thread? Sorry.

jacksonplayer · 07-30-2009, 07:30 PM

I think Gambale has gotten wise in recent years and just gone with the shaved-head look. Batio really needs to give it up or get a better wig maker.

How did this thread turn into a hair thread???

ShadyDavey · 07-30-2009, 07:33 PM

My fault!

I shall try to drag the whole thing back on topic with a video from Friday Night in San Francisco:

keeper006 · 07-30-2009, 07:46 PM

Well Jackson player said it all, and shadydavey posted the vid of my favorite song, so I'll just add I'm a fan of 20+ years. And here's one of Al with another favorite of mine Larry Coryell. Larry actually started the Guitar Trio with McLaughlin and DeLucia, but had to drop out after a tour because of his drug problem and Al filled his spot...

jacksonplayer · 07-30-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadyDavey

My fault!

I shall try to drag the whole thing back on topic with a video from Friday Night in San Francisco:

How the hell does Paco DeLucia fingerpick that fast? I'm amazed every time I listen to that album.

	sevenstring guitars		sevenstring registry		photo gallery		subscription		spy

07-29-2009, 04:02 PM	#1
cycloptopus ss.org Regular Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jersey Shore NJ Posts: 898 Thanked: 15 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Al DiMeola kills it Who's a fan? Al D is da man! This is probably my favorite Al DiMeola tune and possibly one of my all time favorites from anyone.

07-29-2009, 04:27 PM	#3
jacksonplayer The Fusion Guy! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 4,263 Thanked: 27 Feedback Score: 8 reviews	The three Al DiMeola albums you should own are his first three: Land of the Midnight Sun Elegant Gypsy (this is a must own) Casino He's done a lot of great work since then, but much of his best work following Casino has been on acoustic, which where his heart mostly seems to be these days. You should also pick up Return To Forever's The Anthology, which features Al on about 3/4 of the tracks, including all the tracks that were originally on the classic Romantic Warrior album. The other guitarist on The Anthology is Bill Connors, who is no slouch himself. Al joined RTF when he was only 19, and it shows in some of his early tracks, where he plays a bit tentatively and didn't have his sound down yet. But by Romantic Warrior he had the whole package together. He's one of my all-time favorites, as you can tell. You could do a lot worse than to study what he does, particularly his rhythmic precision. I'm pretty sure he was a huge influence on Petrucci. Check out my home page: www.councilofone.net

07-29-2009, 04:54 PM	#6
kmanick SS Contributor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BOSTON Posts: 6,504 Thanked: 86 Feedback Score: 14 reviews	huge fan here, I saw Dimeola live at the Paradise theater in Boston way back in the early 80's. blew me away then as he still does now. Axe Fx II in da house

07-29-2009, 04:58 PM	#9
ShadyDavey 7ibrarian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Peterborough, UK Posts: 6,574 Thanked: 104 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I don't know if its just that picture but it makes him appear to have an EPIC comb-over to rival Bobby Charlton.... While raping a bear in Yellowstone and snorting coke out of a freshly-dead baby's skull, I finally felt that I had found my calling and built a time machine out of Iraqi WMDs and LOTS OF HEMP WHOA. Using this time machine I went back in time and shot JFK from outer ....ing space. I am now your god - Jeff .....and then all of a sudden he drops the musical equivilant of a steaming turd right in our laps - ESP Griffyn

Today
Seven String	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on Sevenstring.org

07-29-2009, 04:19 PM	#2
Desi You can't handle me! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: München, Germany. Posts: 265 Thanked: 3 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'm really getting into his stuff. Actually, I've been really curious about Jazz lately, so I've been watching youtube clips of peeps like Pat Metheny, Wes Montgomery, etc. I actually listened to that clip you posted just yesterday, and yes, it's awesome. Hey, if anyone has any recommendations on Al D albums, or many other Jazzers in general, please shoot. I'm really getting into this Jazz stuff.

07-29-2009, 04:55 PM	#7
Aysakh Bollocks Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hickland Posts: 2,714 Thanked: 28 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	I'm a fan, and his guitar is AWESOME PRS Guitars - Al Di Meola Prism Signature Model

07-29-2009, 04:56 PM	#8
AvantGuardian Orange Vigilante Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,481 Thanked: 27 Feedback Score: 10 reviews	I remember my guitar teacher loaned me a copy of Elegant Gypsy when I was about 14. At the time I was just getting into shred, and I'm really glad I was introduced to DiMeola as well. That got me into a lot of cool fusion stuff as well. I really like the Return to Forever albums that DiMeola plays on. Also, I've seen Bireli Lagrene live. That guy is incredible.

07-29-2009, 05:10 PM	#10
onefingersweep SS.org Regular Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SE Posts: 855 Thanked: 2 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'm a big fan, Di Meola is great, he has his own sound and style. A true legend!

07-29-2009, 06:26 PM	#11
BigPhi84 Pronounced "FEE" Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ga Posts: 3,981 Thanked: 39 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	I have Elegant Gypsy and I really love Al's style. Every time I hear the beginning of "Race With Devil on Spanish Highway" though, I think of People's Court. LOL. The riff around 2:20 was "borrowed" by Liquid Tension Experiment. Self-appointed member of the Sevenstring.org Welcoming Committee (alongside Bloody_Inferno, Zealous, Shawn, Apophis, AliceAxe, M3CHKILLA, Fred the Shred, Explorer, and Sebastian) ROFL My Policy: If you make me laugh in a post or offer something interesting/thought-provoking, you get Rep +1. Pretty simple, right? Waiting now for incoming barrage of funny jokes.

07-30-2009, 07:21 AM	#13
distressed_romeo F'king ............ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melnibone (duh!) Posts: 10,718 Thanked: 233 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Al was a really big influence on me, mainly for his perceptions of rhythm and timing...really inspiring stuff, regardless of what style you play. On top of that, he really forced me to work at picking technique; I'm another one who spent ages practicing the 'Race With the Devil' lick. One thing though, I do wish he'd get his tone sorted, as I've never really been a big fan of the tone he gets on record, on electric or acoustic. Define 'well-adjusted'... http://farsideguitars.blogspot.com/

07-30-2009, 07:36 AM	#14
Apophis Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Poland Posts: 18,281 Thanked: 71 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	All is AWESOME, one of my main influences

07-30-2009, 08:41 AM	#15
OzoneJunkie enormous member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: dancing close to you Posts: 533 Thanked: 6 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Love "Friday Night In San Francisco" and "Kiss My Axe" \o/

07-30-2009, 01:55 PM	#18
jerry424 ss.org Regular Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Scappoose, Oregon Posts: 63 Thanked: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I really like Mike Stern. Greg Howe's fusion stuff is awesome too. I like the way he uses rock-like shred techniques to improvise his jazz stuff. I can't think of anyone else who does that as well as him.

07-30-2009, 07:30 PM	#22
jacksonplayer The Fusion Guy! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 4,263 Thanked: 27 Feedback Score: 8 reviews	I think Gambale has gotten wise in recent years and just gone with the shaved-head look. Batio really needs to give it up or get a better wig maker. How did this thread turn into a hair thread??? Check out my home page: www.councilofone.net

07-30-2009, 07:33 PM	#23
ShadyDavey 7ibrarian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Peterborough, UK Posts: 6,574 Thanked: 104 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	My fault! I shall try to drag the whole thing back on topic with a video from Friday Night in San Francisco: While raping a bear in Yellowstone and snorting coke out of a freshly-dead baby's skull, I finally felt that I had found my calling and built a time machine out of Iraqi WMDs and LOTS OF HEMP WHOA. Using this time machine I went back in time and shot JFK from outer ....ing space. I am now your god - Jeff .....and then all of a sudden he drops the musical equivilant of a steaming turd right in our laps - ESP Griffyn

07-30-2009, 07:46 PM	#24
keeper006 SWEET BERRY WINE! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 283 Thanked: 9 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Well Jackson player said it all, and shadydavey posted the vid of my favorite song, so I'll just add I'm a fan of 20+ years. And here's one of Al with another favorite of mine Larry Coryell. Larry actually started the Guitar Trio with McLaughlin and DeLucia, but had to drop out after a tour because of his drug problem and Al filled his spot...

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode