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There is a sense of democracy about the proceedings, the first three tracks being duos, starting with a medley of Di Meola’s jubilant ‘Mediterranean Sundance’ and de Lucia’s ‘Rio Ancho’. Unlike the others, Paco de Lucia’s style was a product of the music of his native Spain, and became one of the proponents of the new flamenco style that introduced elements of jazz into the sound palette. He also had a deep love of Mediterranean culture, especially flamenco.
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Al di Meola made his name when he joined Return to Forever in 1974, and had gained a somewhat formidable reputation as the fastest picker on the fusion scene. The hugely popular jazz fusion of his Mahavishnu Orchestra and the Indian crossover of Shakti followed in the seventies. McLaughlin had come up through London’s rhythm & blues and jazz scenes, recording one of the classic albums of British jazz, Extrapolation in 1969, before moving to New York in the same year to join Tony Williams’s Lifetime, through whom he was introduced to Miles Davis, making some of the key contributions to Bitches Brew. Perhaps one of the reasons that Friday Night in San Francisco is so purely enjoyable is that it was recorded in 1980, a time when the musicians had paid their dues in the excesses of the seventies fusion explosion, so despite the ferocious strumming and picking flying about, they sound genuinely relaxed. It’s one of the most infectious, life affirming records I know three brilliant guitarists at the top of their game, feeding off the appreciative energy coming from the boisterous audience, cheering them on to even greater heights of virtuosity.
#AL DI MEOLA MEDITERRANEAN SUNDANCE ALBUM FULL#
where, when and who would you choose to see? The Ellington band’s rebirth at the Newport Festival in 1956? Catching Ornette and the boys during their Five Spot residency in 1959? The Beatles at the Cavern Club? Maybe you could cheat and visit Woodstock for the full weekend? Last saturday I pulled out my copy of Friday Night in San Francisco, the legendary meeting of Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, and Paco de Lucía at the The Warfield Theatre on 5th December 1980, and thought, as I do each and every time it gets a spin, “wow, I wish I’d been there”. Musk?) that would transport you to a historic concert in the past. Imagine we could all have one ride in a time-machine (only a matter of time, eh Mr.