Al Di MeolaEvery podcast appearance, updated as new ones drop

Al Di Meola is a jazz guitarist, composer and bandleader whose career spans nearly 50 years. One of the pioneering artists behind the jazz-rock fusion sound, Al’s journey into performing began with Chick Corea as part of the legendary musical outfit Return To Forever. Returning to London for a special night celebrating five decades of music, ‘The Guitarchitect’ looks back on the stories and artistry that defined his sound. The Jazz Club’s Jake Hart caught up with Al to discuss his upcoming concert at The Barbican, performing with Return To Forever, his journey into composition and his adoration of The Beatles. For more information and to keep up to date with Al Di Meola visit his website - https://aldimeola.com/ Listen to the latest episode of The Jazz Club here: Listen to the Jazz Club on RNIB Connect Radio | RNIB

Al Di Meola a bona fide guitar hero, perennial poll-winner, and prolific composer, he has amassed over 20 albums as a leader while collaborating on a dozen or so others with the likes of the fusion supergroup Return to Forever (with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White), the celebrated acoustic Guitar Trio featuring fellow virtuosos John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, and the Rite of Strings trio with bassist Clarke and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. And while his dazzling technique on both acoustic and electric guitars has afforded him regal status among the hordes of fretboard fanatics who regularly flock to his concerts, the depth of Di Meola's writing along with the soulfulness and the inherent lyricism of his guitaristic expression have won him legions of fans worldwide beyond the guitar aficionado set. A pioneer of blending world music and jazz, going back to early Latin-tinged fusion outings like 1976's Land of the Midnight Sun, 1977's Elegant Gypsy and 1978's Casino, the guitar great continues to explore the rich influence of flamenco, tango, Middle Eastern, Brazilian and African music with his World Sinfonia, an ambitious pan-global group that he formed in 1991. Their exhilarating world music fusion has been documented on such releases as 2000’s The Grande Passion (featuring the Toronto Symphony Orchestra), 2007’s Live in London, 2011’s Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody and the stunning 2012 DVD, Morocco Fantasia (recorded at the Mawazine Festival in Rabat, Morocco and featuring special guests Said Chraibi on oud, Abdellah Meri on violin and Tari Ben Ali on percussion). GUITAR TRAX is hosted by mulit-Emmy award winning guitarist Brian Tarquin featuring in- depth interviews with today’s hottest guitar legends and airs every Monday night from 10pm-12pm on NPR's WFIT 89.5FM on the Florida space coast and can be streamed on WFIT.org . In 2023 Brian’s music video “Speed of Sound” featuring Joe Satriani won Best Video of the Year by the Josie Music Awards. His all star album Brothers In Arms topped the metal radio charts peaking #7 on the NACC Loud Rock charts and #11 on the Metal Contraband charts. Both in 2022 & 2023 the Josie Music Awards nominated Tarquin for "Musician of the Year (Guitar)" and "Music Producer of the Year." In 2019 Tarquin received a Global Music Gold Award for his release Orlando In Heaven for “Best Album.” In 2023 the Hollywood Independent Music Awards nominated his company BHP Music-Guitar Trax Records for "Independent Record Label of the Year."

Al Di Meola sits firmly among the greatest guitarists of our time, with a celebrated international career spanning almost five decades and numerous prestigious accolades under his belt. In conversation with Saul Zavarce, Di Meola talks music, his extensive career, and legendary jazz figures from his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.