A productive and innovative composer, a virtuoso identified with his instrument, a living legend. Al Di Meola, a musician who has helped shape fusion music’s past half century, will be joining the 33rd Akbank Jazz Festival. Since he joined the supergroup Return Forever when he was only 19 years old, building bridges between jazz and aural traditions across different regional sounds like Latin, tango, flamenco, and Middle Eastern music has been AI Di Meola’s primary motivation. He has been repeatedly honoured by institutions like the Montreal Jazz Festival, BBC, Guitar Player Magazine, and the Recording Academy for his unique guitar technique full of complex rhythmic syncopation combined with provocative lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmonies. It would definitely not be an exaggeration to call Al Di Meola an explorer. In addition to his recordings as an orchestra leader, both on stage and in the studio he has collaborated with musicians representing different musical aesthetics from Paul Simon, Stanley Clarke, and Luciano Pavarotti to Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and Frank Zappa. Most recently, he has released a concert recording from his tour back in 1980 with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia into an album. Al Di Meola will be at AKM Theater Hall on the evening of September 25th for a magical rendezvous.
Peo Alfonsi: Guitar
Al Di Meola: Guitar
Sergio Martinez: Percussion