CD Review: Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody - Al Di Meola

Al Di Meola (gtrs, perc, keys); Fausto Bercallossi (acc); Kevin Seddiki (2nd gtr); Gumbi Ortiz (perc); Peter Kaszas (perc, kit); Victor Miranda (upright acc baby bass.)

Guests: Charlie Haden (bs); Peter Erskine (dms);Gonzalo Rubalcaba (pno); Barry Miles (string arrangements, keys); Mino Cinelu (perc).

Sturcz String Quartet.

A glimpse at the title and I groaned - more pretentious crap!

How wrong can you be?

The World Sinfonia Band, as the name implies, is a divers mix of many elements. Flamenco, tango, cajun, folk, rock, gypsy yet the jazz feeling is never far away underwriting the many modes with a rhythmic intensity and demonstrated by guitarist Di Meola's virtuosic improvisations. From the opening bars of Siberiana on to that track's turbulant finale I was hooked. The many mood swings of the album kept my attention throughout. Apart from Di Meola who shines through on both acoustic and electric guitars there is some fine 'left bank' accordion playing from Bercallossi. Most of the pieces are Di Meola originals. Full Frontal Contrapuntal has some chops-busting unisons and intricate exchanges between Di Meola's MIDI-tinged acoustic and Bercallossi's accordion. Bona, with the Sturcz String Quartet is sumptuous, relaxed and lyrical The two non-originals, Strawberry Fields and Over The Rainbow, bring in the 'liberated' Charlie Haden. Despite the former being an unlikely jazz vehicle and the latter one of those 'do I really need another version?' tunes they both work - each with a lovely, melodic, late night feel to Di Meola's interpretation. Truly compelling stuff. I'd say catch them where you can but, as the only UK date of their European tour - sandwiched between gigs in Beirut and Vienna - is at Union Chapel, London it might involve a little travelling! Lance. Al Di Meola World Sinfonia Band PURSUIT of RADICAL RHAPSODY - a Telarc recording.