Al Di Meola

An acclaimed fusion guitarist, Al Di Meola helped shape jazz-rock as a globally minded innovator whose palette spans multiple continents. After anchoring Chick Corea's groundbreaking Return to Forever, he solidified his standing with the ensemble's pivotal recordings before striking out on his own via such solo statements as 1976's Land of the Midnight Sun, 1977's Elegant Gypsy, and 1980's Splendido Hotel. He later formed an acoustic guitar supergroup alongside John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia while also teaming with Stanley Clarke, Larry Coryell, Paul Simon, Luciano Pavarotti, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Charlie Haden, and additional notables. Further evolution appeared on 1990's World Sinfonia, 2011's Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody, and 2018's Opus, where his fusion foundation intertwined with Argentinian tango, Spanish flamenco, and traditions from the Middle East, North Africa, and Afro-Cuban realms. In 2020 he released Across the Universe, a deeply personal Beatles homage, then followed it with World Sinfonia: Heart of the Immigrants, featuring bandoneon master Dino Saluzzi, vocalist Hernan Romero, and strings. He returned with Twentyfour in July 2024.

Born in 1954 in Jersey City, New Jersey, Di Meola took up the guitar early, drawing initial inspiration from the Ventures and the Beatles. A focused pupil, he advanced rapidly and displayed prodigious ability while still in his teens. During high school he encountered jazz through Kenny Burrell and Tal Farlow, yet exposure to Larry Coryell's trailblazing fusion approach ultimately prompted him to fuse jazz, blues, rock, and broader elements. He entered Boston's Berklee College of Music in 1972 and joined a quartet led by keyboardist Barry Miles. A recording of that ensemble reached Chick Corea, who promptly invited Di Meola to succeed Bill Connors in Return to Forever. Leaving school without completing his degree, he toured with the band, which at the time included bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White. Under Di Meola the group attained its peak commercial heights, issuing 1974's Where Have I Known Before, the Grammy-winning 1975 album No Mystery, and 1976's Romantic Warrior, each of which reached the U.S. Top 40.

Once Return to Forever dissolved, the then-22-year-old Di Meola launched his solo path with 1976's Land of the Midnight Sun. Retaining ties to his former band, the record enlisted Corea, White, drummer Steve Gadd, bassists Jaco Pastorius and Stanley Clarke, Barry Miles, and further contributors. A succession of strong releases followed, among them the gold-certified 1977 album Elegant Gypsy, 1978's Casino, and 1980's Splendido Hotel, each expanding his fusion language with Spanish, Latin, and global hues.

Throughout the 1980s he pursued wider cross-genre ventures, beginning with the 1980 acoustic summit Friday Night in San Francisco alongside Mahavishnu Orchestra guitarist John McLaughlin and classical virtuoso Paco de Lucia. De Lucia also appeared on Di Meola's 1982 solo outing Electric Rendezvous, which featured keyboardists Jan Hammer and Philippe Saisse along with Steve Gadd and additional players. The similarly all-star Scenario arrived in 1983, uniting Di Meola with Genesis drummer Phil Collins, Yes percussionist Bill Bruford, bassist Tony Levin, and Hammer once more. In 1985 he explored Brazilian music, collaborating with percussionist Airto Moreira on Soaring Through a Dream and the duo set Cielo e Terra.

During the 1980s and 1990s Di Meola consistently topped Guitar Player magazine readers' polls. Demand for his presence extended to sessions and performances with Paul Simon, Stanley Jordan, and Stomu Yamashta, among others. In the 1990s he largely stepped away from fusion in favor of acoustic music steeped in additional world traditions. Tango rhythms figured prominently on 1990's World Sinfonia, Di Meola Plays Piazzolla, and 1993's Heart of the Immigrants. Further high-profile encounters included the 1995 Rite of Strings with Stanley Clarke and Jean-Luc Ponty and a 1996 reunion with McLaughlin and de Lucia on The Guitar Trio. Two years later he issued the synth-oriented The Infinite Desire, which spotlighted Herbie Hancock and Peter Erskine. He closed the decade with 1999's Winter Nights, his inaugural holiday recording.

The 2000s sustained this eclectic trajectory through 2003's Revisited, 2006's Consequence of Chaos, and 2007's Diabolic Inventions and Seduction for Solo Guitar, Vol. 1: Music of Astor Piazzolla. The following year he paired with flutist Eszter Horgas for the live album He and Carmen. In 2011 Di Meola returned with the Latin-infused Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody, spotlighting bassist Charlie Haden and Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba. 2013's All Your Life: A Tribute to the Beatles Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London presented fresh interpretations of the Lennon/McCartney catalog.

The richly layered fusion project Elysium appeared in 2015. Two years afterward he released the concert recording Morocco Fantasia, captured at the Mawazine Festival in Rabat, Morocco, with guest contributions from oud player Said Chraibi, violinist Abdellah Meri, and percussionist Tarik Ben Ali alongside his regular ensemble. In 2018 he unveiled Opus, which incorporated Cuban-born pianist Kemuel Roig. Across the Universe, his second Beatles-centric collection, surfaced in 2020 just as the pandemic began, curtailing touring plans. Over the ensuing three-and-a-half years Di Meola focused on composing, arranging, and demo work, initially envisioning a reflective acoustic statement that ultimately transformed into something sonically distinct. Issued as Twentyfour only three days before his 70th birthday, the album marked his latest chapter.