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Al Di Meola — Mediterranean Sundance
Album: Elegant Gypsy
Avg rating:
8.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2542









Released: 0
Length: 5:05
Plays (last 30 days): 0
(Instrumental)
Comments (360)add comment
 Laptopdog wrote:

This guy is just showing off.



Indeed - and so he should. If I could do ANYTHING as well as this I would be taking out full page ads in the entire world's press.
 TC1 wrote:


If you knew anything about the artist playing, then you'd realize what a moronic statement "Al needs the pick to keep up with Paco De Lucia" is. Al has always preferred a pick, that is just his playing style, long before this duet. Each of these artists are good at what they do, in their own way.



I  Agree completely!!
 JRRClocks wrote:


It seems  a stretch to say that Al Dimeola is trying to "keep up" with Paco DeLucia. I would be surprised if Dimeola could finger pick an acoustic guitar as adeptly as  DeLucia, but I doubt that DeLucia could have played an electric guitar with a pick as well as Dimeola, either.  This strikes me as virtuoso playing by two Masters. I doubt that they declared a winner when the recording was finished.



Very well stated.  I Agree!
 impediguy wrote:

It would be a shame not to mention that this is a duet with Paco De Lucia, who just passed away in February. His playing style is obvious to me. It is not a "rip-off" at all. In fact, it is a duet with the "real McCoy". Listen how well Paco De Lucia meets or beats Al Dimeola's speed. Moreover, Paco De Lucia is playing a nylon string (flamenco) acoustic with his fingers (a.k.a. finger style), whereas Al Dimeola is playing a steel string acoustic with a pick. Al needs the pick to keep up with Paco De Lucia, who was (in my opinion) the best acoustic guitarist in the world in his day. RIP.


If you knew anything about the artist playing, then you'd realize what a moronic statement "Al needs the pick to keep up with Paco De Lucia" is. Al has always preferred a pick, that is just his playing style, long before this duet. Each of these artists are good at what they do, in their own way.
This guy is just showing off.



Astounding.
BRAVO

 impediguy wrote:

It would be a shame not to mention that this is a duet with Paco De Lucia, who just passed away in February. His playing style is obvious to me. It is not a "rip-off" at all. In fact, it is a duet with the "real McCoy". Listen how well Paco De Lucia meets or beats Al Dimeola's speed. Moreover, Paco De Lucia is playing a nylon string (flamenco) acoustic with his fingers (a.k.a. finger style), whereas Al Dimeola is playing a steel string acoustic with a pick. Al needs the pick to keep up with Paco De Lucia, who was (in my opinion) the best acoustic guitarist in the world in his day. RIP.


It seems  a stretch to say that Al Dimeola is trying to "keep up" with Paco DeLucia. I would be surprised if Dimeola could finger pick an acoustic guitar as adeptly as  DeLucia, but I doubt that DeLucia could have played an electric guitar with a pick as well as Dimeola, either.  This strikes me as virtuoso playing by two Masters. I doubt that they declared a winner when the recording was finished.
 impediguy wrote:

It would be a shame not to mention that this is a duet with Paco De Lucia, who just passed away in February. His playing style is obvious to me. It is not a "rip-off" at all. In fact, it is a duet with the "real McCoy". Listen how well Paco De Lucia meets or beats Al Dimeola's speed. Moreover, Paco De Lucia is playing a nylon string (flamenco) acoustic with his fingers (a.k.a. finger style), whereas Al Dimeola is playing a steel string acoustic with a pick. Al needs the pick to keep up with Paco De Lucia, who was (in my opinion) the best acoustic guitarist in the world in his day. RIP.


Very well stated!
 Hippostar wrote:

This is just repetitive playing of a single, over-used chord progression?




And, you can do better?  ...Eh?
My friend was a 15 year old kid and attended the Saturday Night in San Feancisco show where Al played this with Paco.  Problem was that my buddy was exhausted and slept through the show. 
This is also on "Friday Night in San Fransisco" AL, John, and Paco.  Brilliant.
I failed to copy the album cover, but while searching I found out they just released the Saturday night show from the same year remastered and released in 2022 40 years later!
Takes me back to those hot summer holidays on the Costa Brava, hmmmm, Spanish girls 
 impediguy wrote:

It would be a shame not to mention that this is a duet with Paco De Lucia, who just passed away in February. His playing style is obvious to me. It is not a "rip-off" at all. In fact, it is a duet with the "real McCoy". Listen how well Paco De Lucia meets or beats Al Dimeola's speed. Moreover, Paco De Lucia is playing a nylon string (flamenco) acoustic with his fingers (a.k.a. finger style), whereas Al Dimeola is playing a steel string acoustic with a pick. Al needs the pick to keep up with Paco De Lucia, who was (in my opinion) the best acoustic guitarist in the world in his day. RIP.



The version of this piece on Friday Night in San Francisco (from 1981, with John McLaughlin) is pretty good too.
 idiot_wind wrote:

Hey RP, how about playing some Return to Forever, with Al, Chick Corea, and Stanley Clarke?  

This was rock jazz fusion at its finest. 



I was lucky enough to see those boys in London, on the Romantic Warrior tour, back in about 1976 - still one of the best gigs I have been to.  Al Di Meola played his part.
 Hippostar wrote:

This is just repetitive playing of a single, over-used chord progression?




 8. 2 rating not bad for whatever you called it! lmao 
This is just repetitive playing of a single, over-used chord progression?
That's just showing off.  
Fantastic stuff, thought it was Willie & Lobo at first, straight into my playlist RP, cheers!
Too many notes!

(kidding!)
Wrong release date, more like 1979
brilliance! and I prefer Friday Night in SF version… Still love though
While this is a stellar performance, I much prefer the "Friday Night Live in San Francisco" rendition. In fact, that whole album, also featuring John McLaughlin, is an absolutely amazing capture of three insanely talented artists all weaving in, out and around each other!
 Dinges,_the_Dude wrote:

I thought this was a rather long intro of a live Al Stewart song. Like it.




I thought so too, upon first hearing it! 
I thought this was a rather long intro of a live Al Stewart song. Like it.
 bullshipped wrote:

playing fast doesn't make a song good



As a general concept you're right but sure this reasoning doesn't apply to THIS song.
 bullshipped wrote:

playing fast doesn't make a song good



Typing fast doesn't make a comment good.
 bullshipped wrote:

playing fast doesn't make a song good



Playing slow doesn't make a song good 
playing fast doesn't make a song good
Hi, I am from Germany.  This Music from Al Di Meola is wonderful!! I heard it as I was a Teenager 100 times! Thank You for your Musik, Petra Bayer Zinnel,Wetterau
 kingart wrote:
Btw, Bill: you should let this track run to the very last second. After the music stops, either DiMeola or De Lucia emits a whistle of surprise, or awe, or happiness, or all of the above, for the music they have just rendered.  
 

what he said
1977 release. College playlist for me.
 vandal wrote:
I watched in amazement as Al played this at an outdoor jazz festival, New Year's eve in Honolulu, oh. . . '88 - '89? Crazy fingers on insane hands playing out a madman's thoughts on that poor guitar. . .
 

bump
Have love him since the late 70's when I first heard him...  and he's from Jersey!
True mastery of ones instrument....

Magnificent...
OMG...College!  A friend listened to Race with the Devil on a Spanish Highway several times a day for months!
Extraordinary right hand on both these gents, one with a pick, one with his fingers. How I miss seeing Paco live....
 Hey_Porter wrote:
"Elegant Gypsy" was not released in 1990.  I remember my friend Cookie playing this record in the late 70's.
 
Wiki says 1977. Fantastic stuff, this tune.
 Retrograde-orbit wrote:

I bought the album in college.  Graduated in 1982.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... released in 1977
 Hey_Porter wrote:
"Elegant Gypsy" was not released in 1990.  I remember my friend Cookie playing this record in the late 70's.
 
I bought the album in college.  Graduated in 1982.
"Elegant Gypsy" was not released in 1990.  I remember my friend Cookie playing this record in the late 70's.
Hey...play something form the super jazz rock band "Return to Forever"!
The Gypsy Kings? Strunz and Farah? Give me a break.
The music is great, and I was so proud of myself for loving it as a 16 year old (haha), but now as much as I like it, I wonder whether Al and Paco might want to lay off the caffeine.
 DaMoGan wrote:

I appreciate the technical brilliance, and have rated it an 8 (though perhaps it is a 10 on a skill-based scale), but somehow I feel like I don't really connect with it.  Maybe I'm just burned out from listening to the album too much, or maybe I just connect better to songs that have more... warmth, or... I really don't know.  Does anyone else have any insight?

 
I agree regarding this studio version, technically impressive?? Al is much more passionate and engaging live.
I know I am supposed to be impressed.  Wins the prize for the most notes per second....take that Mozart.  However, it feels like a technical exercise devoid of any emotion or feeling.
Everyone in my building is LOVIN' this tune as I've got it cranked to 11.  Or at least....they would be.....it's the middle of the work day and they're hard at it wherever their work may be.  As for me...I'm working from home today....so where's the 12 on that volume knob!? 

Highlow
American Net'Zen
 On_The_Beach wrote:
One of the more bizarre shows I ever saw was Al DiMeola opening for Renaissance.
DiMeola was crazy good and the crowd went nuts.
When Renaissance finally appeared, lead singer Annie Haslam was so drunk she could barely stand up, much less sing.
Well, the novelty wore off after about one song.
As things went from bad to worse, the crowd lost their patience and eventually booed the band off the stage.
Kinda sad really.

 
While these comments should be about this song I have to share my experience about Renaissance.

I saw them, must have been about 1977, and they were fantastic.  The reaction was exactly the opposite of booing the band off the stage.

At the end of the main set they did their encore, which was planned or course.  When that was done the band left the stage and about a minute later they turned up the house lights, which is the cue that the show is really over and everyone should go home.  The audience kept cheering and asking for another encore.  Finally someone (I can't remember if it was someone from the band or their management) came out and thanks us, said they were touched but that was all the material that they had rehearsed, so we finally left
MUY FABULOSA  : )
Alot of showing off imho. I'd rather dig on some straight up Flamenco a la Sabicas.
 idiot_wind wrote:
Hey RP, how about playing some Return to Forever, with Al, Chick Corea, and Stanley Clarke?  

This was rock jazz fusion at its finest. 

 
I'll second that {#Cheesygrin}
Hey RP, how about playing some Return to Forever, with Al, Chick Corea, and Stanley Clarke?  

This was rock jazz fusion at its finest. 


 Paco de Lucia, he was the best . Hope he is playing with Camaron again. 
One of the more bizarre shows I ever saw was Al DiMeola opening for Renaissance.
DiMeola was crazy good and the crowd went nuts.
When Renaissance finally appeared, lead singer Annie Haslam was so drunk she could barely stand up, much less sing.
Well, the novelty wore off after about one song.
As things went from bad to worse, the crowd lost their patience and eventually booed the band off the stage.
Kinda sad really.
 VH1 wrote:

All hail the internet, where even the most clueless can pretend to be experts!

First - play like that THEN complain! Geez! {#Iamwithstupid} 

 
So, by your standards, only musicians should critique music?  I guess the same applies to theater, cinema, books, etc?
 KalleB wrote:

Agree!

Compare with
Paco De Lucia — Virgen De Amor

 More soul (and more technique, but this dosn't count for me).

 
All hail the internet, where even the most clueless can pretend to be experts!

First - play like that THEN complain! Geez! {#Iamwithstupid} 
 garyalex wrote:
...  It's all technique and no soul.
 
Agree!

Compare with
Paco De Lucia — Virgen De Amor

 More soul (and more technique, but this dosn't count for me).
 DaMoGan wrote:

I appreciate the technical brilliance, and have rated it an 8 (though perhaps it is a 10 on a skill-based scale), but somehow I feel like I don't really connect with it.  Maybe I'm just burned out from listening to the album too much, or maybe I just connect better to songs that have more... warmth, or... I really don't know.  Does anyone else have any insight?

 
My reaction to this is similar to yours.  I think part of the problem is the recording itself.  It's rather thin-sounding.  I get no sense of the bodies of the guitars.  It's just too lean for me.  Then, there's the playing.  It's almost relentless.  It's like a machine. It's a flurry of thin, crystalline notes beating you over the head with their precision.  It's all technique and no soul.
Bravo y Olé!! {#Cheers}
Surprised their guitars don't melt!
Hey...play some Return to Forever! I don't think I've ever heard it on RP. 
Djaa!!

I appreciate the technical brilliance, and have rated it an 8 (though perhaps it is a 10 on a skill-based scale), but somehow I feel like I don't really connect with it.  Maybe I'm just burned out from listening to the album too much, or maybe I just connect better to songs that have more... warmth, or... I really don't know.  Does anyone else have any insight?


 impediguy wrote:

Yes, I too had this on vinyl when I was in college starting 1977.
 
Was definitely in 77. Was in college when it came out. Saw him in a small night club in late 70's. Was awesome!
I saw Al Di Meola play the San Diego Sports Arena as the opening act for a group I can't remember back in the late 70's (the first release of this album was 1977). The acoustics were awful back then and he said something like "this is the last time I'll play this blimp hanger" and did the best he could. The next time I got to see him was about a decade later at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach. I got there early and stood right in front of the stage watching his fingers fly over that guitar. Certainly made up for the Sports Arena experience.
 idiot_wind wrote:
HEY!!!!

PLAY SOME "RETURN TO FOREVER" WITH AL PLAYING ELECTRIC!!!!

WHAT A FREAKIN SUPER GROUP! 

 
Exactly. RTF is awesome!
HEY!!!!

PLAY SOME "RETURN TO FOREVER" WITH AL PLAYING ELECTRIC!!!!

WHAT A FREAKIN SUPER GROUP! 
My sentiments exactly !!!

 
wpost wrote:
Now how am I supposed to get any work done with this masterwork on? This is not background music, this is set-aside-the-work-turn-up-the-volume-the-job-can-wait music.

 


Now how am I supposed to get any work done with this masterwork on? This is not background music, this is set-aside-the-work-turn-up-the-volume-the-job-can-wait music.
A masterpiece from two great guitarists-10!
I love the live version on the San Francisco album. It has more energy and playfulness than this version, but even better the audience goes nuts at the end. It's really cool to hear so many people showing the appreciation that you feel but who are able to express it. Bursting into applause at work usually generates a lot of razzing from the cublcle-dwellers.
Awakens my Latin blood. 
 Hippostar wrote:
Just don't get the whole Andalusian thing.  Same four chords, all speed, no substance.  Sort of like listening to this guy for 5 minutes.


 
Pay attention to song form and articulation.  Then if you don't get it, you never will.
 Sloggydog wrote:
A great couple of songs - surely we are heading in the direction of Rodrigo y Gabriella (or at least I will be if the playlist diverges)

 
I saw Rodrigo y Gabriella live in concert, and Al made a cameo appearance on stage. R&G were obviously influenced by Al, but unfortunately few in the audience knew who he was. Yet I was coming out of my skin -- wow that's Dimeola!
 njtjt wrote:
Great song.   I looked at your info for this and saw the original release date listed as 1990.   I remember this around high school/college days.   I think 1977 or there about is the correct date.   Maybe 1990 was a reissue?

 
Yes, I too had this on vinyl when I was in college starting 1977.
 rotekz wrote:
This track is a blatant rip-off/homage to Entre Dos Aguas by Paco De Lucia.

 
It would be a shame not to mention that this is a duet with Paco De Lucia, who just passed away in February. His playing style is obvious to me. It is not a "rip-off" at all. In fact, it is a duet with the "real McCoy". Listen how well Paco De Lucia meets or beats Al Dimeola's speed. Moreover, Paco De Lucia is playing a nylon string (flamenco) acoustic with his fingers (a.k.a. finger style), whereas Al Dimeola is playing a steel string acoustic with a pick. Al needs the pick to keep up with Paco De Lucia, who was (in my opinion) the best acoustic guitarist in the world in his day. RIP.
Btw, Bill: you should let this track run to the very last second. After the music stops, either DiMeola or De Lucia emits a whistle of surprise, or awe, or happiness, or all of the above, for the music they have just rendered.  
I know, because I liked it since this time
btw, album was released in 1977, not 1990 !
This track is a blatant rip-off/homage to Entre Dos Aguas by Paco De Lucia.
I thought this was a long intro of another live version of On The Border by Al Stewart ;-)
{#Sunny} really nice to hear some AL, thanks Bill......
This isn't the only RP-worthy song of DiMeola's, check out some of his more recent solo material. 
Just don't get the whole Andalusian thing.  Same four chords, all speed, no substance.  Sort of like listening to this guy for 5 minutes.

Muy bueno
I could that...

I just don't feel like it 
 
A great couple of songs - surely we are heading in the direction of Rodrigo y Gabriella (or at least I will be if the playlist diverges)
 ziakut wrote:
I really like this, but I do like the version live in San Francisco with Paco DeLucia and John McLaughlin better.
 
Agree!
Great song.   I looked at your info for this and saw the original release date listed as 1990.   I remember this around high school/college days.   I think 1977 or there about is the correct date.   Maybe 1990 was a reissue?
I really like this, but I do like the version live in San Francisco with Paco DeLucia and John McLaughlin better.
How does he make that guitar do that ?

 
I thought this was the intro of Al Stewarts live version of the song On the Border until I looked at the playlist. Still it resembles it i.m.o.
Just perfect ! Fabulous. Si la version du trio avec Mc Laughlin et Paco de Lucia est impressionnante, celle-ci reste la plus belle.

perfectionism at its best...no 1 can top this!
 
Fantastico!
AWESOME!  Could hear more DiMeola on RP for sure.
 kingart wrote:
Al and pal Paco de Lucia. Stupendous. That's a 10. 
 
Oh yes, and if I may also recommend Paco de Lucia's "Entre Dos Aguas" (from 1973's album "Fuente y Caudal") … Their finger work always blows me away. Straight 10.
Al and pal Paco de Lucia. Stupendous. That's a 10. 
I love this song, and bought the album based on it.  Turns out that was a bit of a mistake, as the rest of the album consists almost entirely of moderately interesting jazz fusion stuff. It's completely different, and in my opinion far inferior to this track.  I probably should have just bought this one and called it good.

Nonetheless, this song is pretty freaking amazing! 
The good and bad thing about hearing this is 1) It's causing me to open my iTunes library and play Electric Rendezvous, and 2) log off of Radio Paradise and not be surprised again for the next 40 minutes. 

Thanks, and apologies, Bill.
Only on RP you get surprises like this. I bought this album a couple of years ago and it's never been far from my stereo. This track is by far the closest to traditional flamenco. All the others are experimental, but in a good way. Al is one of the top guitarists ever. Bill, any chance of playing a song from the album he did with the Azerbi pianist, Aziza Mustafa? That's a hell of a record. It's called "Dance of Fire". A ten in my opinion. And so is this melody.

A Cuban In London.
A fun blast from the past. Has aged wonderfully, as all good music does.
This whole album is excellent!

Owwwwwssssusummmmm !!
Like this "song"!
Souds like a very long intro of a live-version of a song from Al Stewart, On the Border.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCslASOabUI
 kingart wrote:
I could hear this a 1,000 times and never tire of it.  How do you spell godlike? 
 
g-o-d-l-i-k-e



 
drews wrote:
Haven't heard this in years! Had a version of this on vinyl on the excellent Friday Night in San Francisco 1981 live album (with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía), an album I can really recommend. Loving it!

 
I have that one too! Some of the best guitar playing EVER!
He's got nimble fingers. I'm amazed that everyone loves this but many complain that Tommy Emmanuel's playing has no "feeling" or "soul." About Al, I'll paraphrase a Frank Zappa comment about John McLaughlin (of the Mahavishnu Orchestra): If you like a guitar played like a machine gun, Al is your guy.
 agkagk wrote:

The ship is sinking and there's just enough time to:
a) rescue some CD's for the island 
OR
b) lure Stingray back to his cabin and lock him in.

Choices, choices. Aaargh!!

PS: Al DiMeola is utterly astounding! It's a pity there's only ONE SONG of his on the RP playlist. I'd upload something, but everything of his I have is on vinyl.
 

{#Clap}{#Roflol}
 apd wrote:
Was this album really called "Elegant Gypsy"?!
 
Anything wrong about it?



Was this album really called "Elegant Gypsy"?!


Thanks RP for making my "overtime" at work more pleasant.  Love this too!  {#Daisy}
I could hear this a 1,000 times and never tire of it.  How do you spell godlike? 
Chick Corea could always tell....Al was a "romantic warrior."

Does anyone know which side/channel is DiMeola and which is de Lucia?
This is positively my favorite flamenco piece, great way to start this day...
Hey this guy just played a friend of mines venue; said he was amazing!
Classic. Haven't heard this track for decades....
LEAVES ME ICE-COLD!