Al Di Meola's -- Elegant Gypsy

[trackstoni]

Al Di Meola , a jazz/rock fusion virtuoso guitarist /





Intense, that’s the best word to describe the character of the music that took hold at the outset of the 70’s. Powered by stacks of amplifiers, propelled by rock backbeats, fueled with unbridled passion, and full of the spirit of jazz improvisation, this so-called fusion music coalesced into a full blown movement with the arrival of John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra, Larry Coryell’s Eleventh House, and Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. We can feel the intensity in Di Meola’s playing in his debut with Return o Forever, 1974’s «Where Have I Known You Before», or their 1975 follow-up, the Grammy-winning «No Mystery». That power-house formula of dizzying speed, demanding unison lines, and rock intensity continues on the group’s 1976 Columbia debut, «Romantic Warrior» and carries over to Di Meola’s debut as a leader, «Land of the Midnight Sun», released the same year on Columbia. His signature sound, the ringing sustain of a Les Paul played through a Marshall stack is an integral part of al those projects. Guitar Player magazine named Di Meola «best new talent» for 1975 on the strength of his playing on «No Mystery». It awarded him «Best Jazz guitarist» for 1977 and also named his «Elegant Gypsy» «Best Guitar Lp» for that year. Al went on to dominate the Best Jazz Guitarist» category, winning five consecutive years through 1981, while also earning «Best Guitar Lp» awards in 1978 for «Casino» and in 1980 for «Splendido Hotel». With those impressive credits, Al was instantly inducted into Guitar Player’s Gallery of the Greats, becoming the youngest player in the magazine’s history ever accorded that honor.

At the outset of the 80’s, Di Meola put his Les Paul on the shelf and turned to the acoustic guitar, touring and recorded with a superstar trio including McLaughlin and Spain’s flamenco master, Paco de Lucia. He returned to his old electrified ways briefly with 1982’s «Electric Rendez-vous» and its follow-up, «Tour De Force Live». In 1983, the same year he recorded the bravado studio album «Passion, Grace & Fire» with the acoustic trio, De Meola had a brief reunion tour with his old RTF mates, Corea, drummer Lenny White, and bassist Stanley Clarke. Though the tour proved that the intensity was still very much alive, no record was released of this powerhouse fusion unit, together again for the first time since the 1976 breakup…



Discography:
Land of the Midnight Sun - 1976 (excellent)
Elegant Gypsy - 1977 (a masterpiece of jazz/rock fusion)
Casino - 1978 (excellent)
Splendido Hotel - 1980 (good)
Friday Night in San Francisco - 1981 (excellent)
Electric Rendezvous - 1982 (excellent)
Tour De Force: Live - 1982 (good)
Scenario - 1983 (excellent)
Cielo e Terra - 1985 (good)
Soaring Through a Dream - 1985 (good)
Tirami Su - 1987 (excellent)
Kiss My Axe - 1988 (good)
World Sinfonia - 1990 (fair)
DiMeola Plays Piazzolla - 1990 (good)
Greatest Hits - 1990
Collection - 1992
The Best of Al Di Meola: Manhattan Years - 1992 (excellent)
Heart of the Immigrants - 1993 (excellent)
Orange & Blue - 1994 (good)
The Essence of Al DiMeola - 1994
This Is Jazz, Vol. 31 - 1997
The Infinite Desire - 1998 (fair)
Christmas: Winter Nights - 1999
The Grande Passion: World Sinfonia - 2000
Anthology - 2000
Acoustic Anthology - 2000
Electric Anthology - 2000
Flesh on Flesh - 2002 (good)
Revisited - 2003


-- all rates are subject to my opinion first , and public ratings in general ,
all albums without rates are only for collectors of this genre .

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Long time ago , exactly 30 years , there was no vai & satriani , there was Santana ,McLaughlin , De Lucia & Coryell . these giants contributed in the making of Latin - Jazz - Rock fusion that we know . At that time , there was many bands & soloists using the same formula , by combining styles , cultures , harmonies & techniques , in one globe . And , no doubt that few of these artists did a great job in introducing new version of jazz wasn't available before 1975 . Al di Meola ( in addition to Mc Laughlin ,Coryell, Paco de Lucia , Stanley Clarke & Chick Corea ) did in my opinion A great job in finding paths between east & west , north & south , latin & oriental . this source of creativity wasn't existing before , except some european works ( ponty etc...) and some ECM releases. Surely Santana gave in the early releases the same blend , but was commercial in my opinion , just to satisfy the markets needs . So , Elegant Gypsy was my start in discovering such a wonderful world of melodies & techniques full of grandiose & excellent musicianship . I knew on later stages that AL was involved in many project before his first solo album in 1975 , But 1975 - 1985 was the golden period of his career . One masterpiece Elegant Gypsy , Many excellent albums ( casino - electric rendez-vous ) and three great works . Elegant Gypsy ,imo, has more impact on oriental ears , ritch of spanish -acoustics at peak levels , and sound like OUD ( oriental instrument reliable in most middle eastern countries ) , best techniques used by the team , perfection in sound quality , amazing songwriting , nice setting of tracks . All tracks from Flight over Rio till Elegant Gypsy suite , deserves 4.5 stars with no exception . the uses of minimoog , electic piano & keyboards were simply adorable , not to mention Paco's acoustic guitar in best shape & fabulous . One of the best recordings of Jazz fusion since 1977 . Essential by all means ......... Tracks Toni .....
-- this review quoted from Progarchives (posted 4/20/2008) by me .

[SpaceCommandSam]

this album kicks ass! *5 stars*