Nov 10 - Guitar Legend Al Di Meola Looking Forward To Jazz Festival Tonight
Al Di Meola's career spans 40 years - in that time, his intricate and often fast-paced guitar work has blended world music and jazz.
Tonight he headlines the Gibraltar Jazz Festival concert in St Michael’s Cave.
YGTV caught up with Al for a few quick questions…
YGTV: What are your impressions of Gibraltar seeing as it’s your first time here?
Al Di Meola: I didn’t know what to expect - last night we pulled in very late and I got a view of the giant Rock, went to sleep and now I woke up to the view of a beautiful port. Recently I played in Algeciras which is right across the water so I had a different view.
YGTV: Yes, music fans will know about your connection with Algeciras and Paco de Lucia - what was that collaboration like?
Al Di Meola: It was fantastic…it was very powerful from the moment we met in the mid 70s with my invitation of Paco to New York. We began a relationship that was musically very powerful and influences on both sides really helped to develop future work.
YGTV: What has drawn you to music from the Mediterranean?
Al Di Meola: I think I have Latin blood naturally - and a relationship with the music like Paco but my music had a more Caribbean vibe. Mediterranean music is more about the heartfelt nature and sentiment of the music we grew up with in my family from Italy.
YGTV: What can the audience expect at tonight’s concert?
Al Di Meola: I’ll be doing a lot of my originals and some brand new music that I’ve written mixed in with some mid-period compositions. We’re going to combine it with some Piazzolla and some other tango and some Lennon and McCartney.
YGTV: Even though it’s the Jazz Festival, your music comes under a much wider definition doesn’t it? Some of it can be described as world music or flamenco…
Al Di Meola: Yes, it’s pretty wide. I didn’t come from a Bebop background and stay stuck in jazz. There was always that idea, from back when I was 19 years old, that we were playing for a wider audience that appreciated many different genres of music. I never wanted to retreat back into one little area.
YGTV: What else do you have planned for the rest of this year and next?
Al Di Meola: I have a different band in the States for my electric repertoire from my early years - we’ll combine both groups and I have two new releases coming out in February: a studio record and a live record.
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