★★★★★
One could be forgiven for groaning, "Aww, not another jazz artist doing Beatles covers," before listening to Al Di Meola's All Your Life. But after hearing just the first few tracks, that sort of naysaying should perish. Di Meola's approach on these 14 Lennon-McCartney covers is homey and unfussy, just an acoustic guitar or two laying out the melodies, some light embellishment and braiding, and a sprinkling of minimal percussion (often just handclaps)...
- jazztimes.com
2014-01-08
★★★★★
?????????? All Your Life may be the loveliest album Al Di Meola has ever done. His affection for the Beatles material that comprises the album was no doubt amplified by recording at Abbey Road Studios where the iconic foursome did the bulk of their work. In producing this tribute to the Beatles, Di Mieola remains true to his previous recorded efforts by working in the acoustic vein within which his flamenco skills allow him to find nuance in melodies like that of "In My Live" and "And I Love...
- www.glidemagazine.com
2014-01-03
★★★★★
Generally speaking, guitar wizard Al Di Meola has divided his musical attentions over the years between electric and acoustic, fusion and world music directions. This time out he splits the difference with some dazzling results...
- www.jazztimes.com
2011-03-28
★★★★★
Al Di Meola One of These Nights Music Video Distributors 2005 Guitarist Al Di Meola proved it's possible to evolve from raw groundbreaking fusion to mellow contemporary arrangements and still excel. His 2005 concert DVD One Of These Nights takes the concept to a visual level, offering a minimalist view of an exceptional performance instead of capturing viewers by showing off...
- www.allaboutjazz.com
2010-08-20
★★★★★
Al Di Meola Live at Montreux 1986/1993 Eagle Eye Media 2004 Al Di Meola has been a contrast in terms of music. He has taken his guitar into various streams with different levels of success. His playing has been marked with a gentle lyrical air just as it has been infiltrated with an abundance of technique; the latter at times at the expense of an emotional connect. The two performances captured here show both sides...
- www.allaboutjazz.com
2010-08-20
★★★★★
Al Di Meola first examined tango music in depth on 1990's Di Meola Plays Piazzolla (Atlantic), his heartfelt tribute to the great Argentine composer and bandoneon player Astor Piazzolla. On this collection of intricate and fiendishly challenging Piazzolla compositions, the renowned virtuoso holds his blazing fusion tendencies in check for the most part, instead immersing himself into the inherent beauty of each piece with a nuanced, soulful touch...
- www.jazztimes.com
2010-04-16
★★★★★
Al Di Meola, the Jersey-born virtuoso guitarist who starred in the fusion supergroup Return to Forever, has bounced back and forth between acoustic and electric music throughout his career. For his latest, Consequence of Chaos, Di Meola mixes electric-guitar workouts with some acoustic numbers. The album is a mixture of funk, fusion and world music, and Di Meola has his well-known imprint all over each song...
- www.jazztimes.com
2010-02-19
★★★★★
A marriage of jazz, world music, and high technology, this ambitious label debut freely draws upon Di Meola's vast reservoir of interests, talents, and experiences. While his core group includes drummer Ernie Adams, bassist Tom Kennedy, keyboardist Mario Parmisano, and percussionist Gumbi Ortiz, he also calls upon the services of luminaries such as Steve Vai, John Patitucci, and Rachael Z. The sophisticated writing and use of technology occasionally recall 1985's lush Soaring Through a Dream...
- www.jazztimes.com
2010-02-19
★★★★★
With Flesh on Flesh, guitarist Al Di Meola attempts to marry Latin sounds to his familiar fusion. To that end, Di Meola was obviously committed-at least in the personnel department. The guitarist assembled a mob of Latin musicians for the recording, including pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, flutist Alejandro Santos and members of World Sinfonia. He also chooses some interesting music to cover, including pieces by Astor Piazzolla, Egberto Gismonti and Chick Corea...
- www.jazztimes.com
2010-02-19