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From: brandx@ihu1m.UUCP (Howard D. Weisberg)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Al DiMeola with EyeAirToe (Live)
Message-ID: <384@ihu1m.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 15-Apr-85 13:51:08 EST
Article-I.D.: ihu1m.384
Posted: Mon Apr 15 13:51:08 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 16-Apr-85 01:13:44 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 37

Last Friday night I saw Al DiMeola with Airto Moreira (perc.) and
Phil Markowitz (keys.).  To say that I've been disappointed with
solo DiMeola music for the past few years would be an understatement.
Splendido Hotel really only had about 2 1/2 sides of good stuff.
Electric Rendezvous wandered from hopeless rock parodies to some okay
acoustic stuff.  The live album was Al trying to be a rockstar.
Scenario was Al trying to be Peter Gabriel (except that to be Peter
Gabriel you have to play with feeling and make human sounds out
of machines).

Needless to say, I went to the Park West with no expectations (the
best way to go to a concert.)  First Airto comes out and does
a couple of amazing solo pieces.  He has never sounded better.
His trademark "drum solo on a tambourine" was awesome.  All very
musical.

Then DiMeola strolls out.  Who is this guy with the guitar that's
all clean-shaven and wearing a red bandana?   He sits down and starts
playing.  What's this?  I guess the chair keeps him from feeling
like he's a rock star.  Too bad.  This guy doesn't even play the
same fast scales over and over.  During one composition he picks
up his Synclavier guitar.  It sounds like a human voice coming out
of the guitar.  (Beats the hell out of "I Can Tell").  The next time
he plays it, it sounds like a xylophone.

For the very first time in a long time, DiMeola's sounding human.  
Playing great compositions instead of mechanical "Romantic Warrior" 
influenced exercises ( I guess he gave up trying to be Chick Corea).
The only thing I could compare this to (if you want a comparison)
is Pat Metheny.  This music holds its own.  The only old stuff
he did was "Scenario" and "Short Tales of the Black Forest."
I guess Columbia must have dumped Al (he didn't produce a
hit single in his allotted time).
His new record will be out on Manhattan Records this month.

Al is back.
I'll be