Search - Al Di Meola :: Plays Piazzolla

Timeless music

Enrique Torres | San Diegotitlan, Califas | 07/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been hot and cold on Al Di Meola going back to the "Elegant Gypsy " days up to the " The Grand Passion" disc and this is one of those hot ones. The music of Astor Piazzolla is worth discovering and this fine collection of compositions is outright beautiful. Di Meola's trademark machine gun fire guitar technique is slowed down perfectly throughout the disc to create a romantic mood of airy Argentinian nights. The music takes you on a journey to sidewalk cafes, European ambiance transplanted to South America for a wonderful musical experience. The tenderness of the guitar work is ovewhelming at times, it is as though Di Meola were making love to his guitar. The Bandoneon compliments the meticulous fret work with exquisite elegance. The tango music sounds old yet modern creating the best of both worlds; the simplicity and complexity harmonize for a post tango sound that is timeless. This is music that sounds good now, sounded good under the guise of the World Sinfonia and will continue to be a disc that can be played for years to come and still sound fresh. Needless to say Al Di meola's guitar work is breathtaking, it is awe inspiring magical fret work that makes him one of the best around. The disc as a whole has a cinematic feel to it, it is world music regionalized and internationalized for all to enjoy. One great composer and another fantastic interpreter create one memorable listening experience for the tango music fan. Put this on your home stereo and as the music fills the room you will be taken back and away. Recommended for all audiophiles who appreciate classy music that will stand the test of time."

The Master Plays the Master

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 04/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Virtuoso musicians of different genres often collaborate on albums for a variety of reasons, i.e. perhaps from mutual admiration, for ego, or for a charitable benefit. Rarely does such collaboration result in something memorable. The meeting of Astor Piazzolla and Al DiMeola before the former's death resulted in a project that did. My impression of their meeting is that both men deeply admired the work of the other, but also that DiMeola approached Piazzolla in such a worshipful and respectful manner that he was mystically inspired to produce a body of incomparable work bringing the "message" of Piazzolla to the masses of fans who had never heard of him. By combining Piazzolla compositions from other albums into one and adding a couple more, "DiMeola Plays Piazzolla" makes this work accessible and readily identifiable to his fans and thus succeeds in spreading the Piazzolla gospel. I know it works because I have introduced many to Piazzolla through DiMeola. What an incredible album. Mellow and other-worldly, it will transport you to a dreamy world far from your everyday concerns. From the ethereal sounds of DiMeola's guitar to the sepulchral tones of Dino Saluzzi's bandoneon you will find yourself transfixed by the beauty of this music, ever evocative of the melancholy of the Buenos Aires tango milieu. My favorites are the somber "Oblivion", "Cafe 1930", "Nightclub 1960", and "Bordel 1900" (featuring some intricate bandoneon work), and "Tango Suite", the magnum opus which I think is the only one in which Piazzolla was directly involved. It is said that the Argentine writer Borges smiled down on Piazzolla and approved of his work. I think that both of them must now be smiling down on DiMeola. This album belongs in any serious music lover's collection."

This album worth more than 5 stars

Wolfgang Klemmer | Santiago, Chile | 01/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I live in Chile (neghtbour to Argentina) and I've been many times in Buenos Aires. This album realy translates you to the mood you feel in that city during winter. The passion that comes out of Al DiMeola when playing this music represents the culture of that country - feeling, passion, tradition, arts - heritage of the big Italian inmigration of the begining of the century. Also, after listening to this album I started to buy some Piazzolla music since I was prepared to understand it better."