El Di Meola

Albert Laurence Di Meola is a famous American jazz guitarist, composer, and producer of Italian descent (from Cerreto Sannita). During his three decades of musical career, he became revered as one of the most influential guitarists in jazz today.

Meola spent his early years in Bergenfield, New Jersey, where he attended Bergenfield High School. In 1971, he entered the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

Already in 1972, Meola played in the Barry Miles Quintet, and two years later, in 1974, he joined jazz pianist Chick Corea’s Return to Forever band to record the album Where Have I Known You Before. During Al di Meola’s tenure in the group, two more albums were recorded: “No Mystery” (1975) and “Romantic Warrior” (1976). In the band, he played with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. He traveled the world with them, and in 1975 they won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance by a Group (“No Mystery”).

Al di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia at a concert in Barcelona in the 80s
In 1976, he recorded a solo album “Land of the Midnight Sun” (1976), which was recorded with bassist Jaco Pastorius. Meola attracted attention mainly for his speed and technical skills. His early recordings, such as “Race with the Devil on the Spanish Highway” or “Egyptian Danza”, associated his name mainly with the electric guitar. Although he had purely acoustic recordings, when he began to explore Mediterranean cultures, flamenco. For example, “Mediterranean Sundance”, “Lady of Rome, Sister of Brazil” from the album “Elegant Gypsy” (1977), or “Fantasy Suite” from the album “Casino”.