Al Di Meola DVD

[Supreeth]

I just got a new DVD. Al Di Meola's "One of These Nights". I have always liked Al's guitaring but have never seen a performance. This one blew me away completely. He's playing an acoustic-electric guitar with a Roland guitar synth and creates some out of this world music. His compositions are mind blowing and he has an amazing backing band. As to shredding, this guy is one of the most accurate shredders ever. He'll be off on a 32nd note run and stop the run on the 19th 32nd note or so and play a small melody before finishing the run. That's sheer talent and perseverance for you. Anyway I just finished watching it and can't get enough of it. I'd highly recommend this DVD to everyone here!

 

[kbaim]

I've been thinking of picking it up. Nice to know it's a good one.

I picked up the DVD he did w/ ponty on violin and clarke on bass and was blown away by his acoustic comping. Always thought of him as primarily a shredder who palm mutes, but his chord vocab and phenomenol strumming is worth the price of the DVD alone.

 

[Funky Chicken]

I saw him live a couple of months ago at The Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh. It's not that big a place, and the area in front of the stage is for standing only.
Watching him from 15 feet away gave me a new appreciation for his playing. He's damn fast when he wants to be but always really clean. The fact that he carries the speed over to steel and nylon string acoustics was the kicker for me, though. I left the show really impressed.

 

[SteveB]

I just saw Al in October. The venue was a small club that used to be a Catholic church! (The very church my parents were married in, no less..)

Anyway, his playing is flawless. He kept a music stand nearby with some charts or scores on it. I found that interesting.. made me want to learn how to sight read from a score. When I was young I played trumpet and could sight read anything. Never learned to do that on guitar since I play by ear and never had a lesson. I'm sure I could teach myself, though... and now that I mention it, I think I'll aim to do that next year. Maybe a New Year's resolution.

Anyway, Al is certainly a master of the instrument. He is equally fluid on acoustic or electric. He was playing a PRS when I saw him, though..