music Guitarist legend Al Di Meola turns 70
Al Di Meola turns 70 on July 22. The American was one of the co-inventors of jazz-rock and is one of the most influential and fastest guitarists in music history.
21.07.2024, 12:00
SDA
Together with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, Al Di Meola released the live acoustic album "Friday Night In San Francisco", which sold millions of copies.
For the New Jersey-born musician, the guitar is more than just an instrument: "When something stresses me out or I get bad news, I immediately run to my guitar and play," Di Meola told the German Press Agency.
"It gives me strength and confidence. As soon as I strum the strings, I start thinking positive thoughts." The master musician has almost told the story of how his new album "Twentyfour" came about.
The cross-style work, which eloquently juggles the expressive means of jazz, classical music and flamenco, was created during the Covid pandemic. "It was a scary time," he says, "this flood of bad news... Composing turned out to be therapy for me."
Looking back, he can also take something positive from the coronavirus era: "As there were no tours and therefore no traveling, I've never been in one place for so long in my life as a musician. That has benefited my compositions. They have greater depth."
The highlights of the 15-track album include "Tears Of Hope", which is based on classical motifs, the fiery, percussive "Ava's Dance In The Moonlight", inspired by his young daughter Ava, and "Esmeralda", which is based entirely on the flamenco tradition.
On the latter song in particular, the youthful-looking jazz legend once again draws attention with his lightning-fast solo runs - highly complex licks that made him a global guitar hero as a 19-year-old in Chick Corea's band "Return To Forever".
To maintain this technical level, he plays and practices guitar every day. Not always without pain. "I had problems with my hands," he says. "That can be worrying. What if it gets worse?" In any case, he can't imagine life without a guitar.
Important for Di Meola: Munich and Italy
Otherwise, however, Al Di Meola gives the impression of a happy person who is at peace with himself and the world. This is also thanks to his happy marriage to a woman from Munich - a city that has always appealed to him: "It's a beautiful, picturesque village," he says of the Bavarian metropolis.
"Everything runs smoothly. You don't have to worry about anything bad happening, and the people all look good. Every time I'm here, I feel a sense of peace."
His roots lie many kilometers further south, in Italy. Both his parents came from Campania, near Naples. When asked what is so Italian about him, the answer comes as quick as an arrow. "Everything!" he says. "I live and breathe Italy. I love Italian fashion, the food and the way of life." His annual shows on Capri are therefore also among his favorites in his tour calendar.
