Consequence of Chaos

Al Di Meola | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 26, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000HIVOAK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,324 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. San Marco

2. Turquoise

3. Odyssey

4. Tao

5. Azucar

6. Sanctuary

7. Hypnose

8. Red Moon

9. Cry For You

10. Just Three Words

11. Tempest

12. Storm Off-Shore

13. Black Pearls

14. Africana Suite

15. San Marco (Vecchio)

16. Untitled

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In the '70s, guitarist Al Di Meola was the teenage phenom who burst on the scene with pianist Chick Corea and Return to Forever. Three decades later, his Memphisto-like prowess is still in effect, as evidenced by this impressive disc. With a number of world-class musicians--including drummer Steve Gadd, bassist John Patitucci, and keyboardist Barry Miles--Di Meola conjures up a whirling dervish of sounds that easily groove in fusion, world music, and techno contexts. The two versions of "San Marco" are cast in New World improvisations and Old World airs. "Tao," "Hypnose," "Tempest," "Black Pearls," and the "Africana Suite" swing with East Asian, Arabic, and West African harmonic and rhythmic motifs. Corea joins his former bandmate on the Santana-like "Red Moon" and the light but funky "Odyssey." Di Meola, who also plays percussion and keyboards, has grown with the times, with his killer power chords intact. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Product Description

Legendary guitar hero Al Di Meola's first release in four years is a searing, high caliber affair, brimming with colorful and complex arrangements. Di Meola's fifth Telarc album offers a contemporary set of fifteen original, genre-blurring compositions. The roster of special guests includes pianist Chick Corea, drummer Steve Gadd, keyboardist Barry Miles, bassists John Patitucci and Victor Miranda, and percussionist Kornel Horvath.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid., December 31, 2006

By 

music4yourears (London-New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Consequence of Chaos (Audio CD)

The veteran guitarist is back in the trusty electric saddle.
Di Meola was the blazing jazz fusion axeman par excellence in "Return To Forever" back in the '70s and he has come a long way since - he's explored acoustic via Brazilian, tango and flamenco collaborations and developed his compositional and arranging abilities considerably.

That expanded knowledge base is evident in the fifteen tracks on this release, but so is the obvious fun he has reconnecting with his first love - the solid-body electric guitar.
So although this record is not all about electric flash - there's plenty of rich texture and strong melody to get your head round - it's great to hear him cut loose as in days of yore.
Di Meola's distinctive style and classy approach congeal the music with authority.

He's signed up good support too: former boss Chick Corea appears on two tunes (the lovely acoustic duet on "Cry for You" which brings out the best in both musicians as their interplay , and the scalding "Red Moon" )
Percussionists Ernie Adams and Gumbi Ortiz's standout work, especially on the subtle "Hypnose," add hot, bubbling flavor to the project,and drum maestro Steve Gadd guests on another couple and Di Meola's working quartet provide road-tested grooves throughout.
A must for all electric guitar aficionados.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Please listen on before casting judgement !, October 29, 2006

By 

Jan Hammer "Hammer" (Hungary) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Consequence of Chaos (Audio CD)

Allowed one Al di Meola CD to take on my desert island , would this be the one ?? Nope....(that`d be Elegant Gypsy or Tour de Force).
But is this a brilliant CD?? - you bet!
Actually, I think time will show us that this is one of Al`s very best (that what he thinks - I think we`ll agree with time..)

What fascinates me is that - like no Al CD before - this contains Al`s full CV.... there are pieces of RTF/early di Meola,Orange & Blue,and stuff
that could well belong to Tiramisu or even Soaring Through a Dream (remember that one?!). In short: this IS Al di Meola - full spectrum...

For those (of us ) who were perhaps expecting a return to the raw intensity of the early days, let`s not be disappointed - and let`s give the guy a break ! (how many of us drive or make love like we did back in `78 ?? so why expect the same music from Al?)
We do get reminders of the 70s (eg Tempest) but the depth of a truly mature musician shines through on this CD - eg Turquoise cca 3 minutes into the tune - that 1 minute would stand proud on any di Meola cut...

So why not 5 stars ?? ....
Quite simply, because whilst Al is a technical virtuoso in his own league, overall-for me- he fails to generate "Band momentum" throughout the CD....( Come to think of it,maybe Orange & Blue was the last time in this respect... ) Brilliant pieces of interaction (particularly with the keyboards), and some amazing tunes with real depth, but the dynamism of a real band throughout the whole CD seems missing...
And this is at the crux of things I think... Many people have said that they are disappointed / missing the flair of old and of announced.. But is that where it`s at??
I think the flair is there most of the time, with additional depth that makes eg The Wizard and co seem extremely raw - the real issue in my mind is that amongst the depth/sporadic flair Al seems to have "lost the band momentum" that made eg Casino / Electric Rendezvous/ or even Kiss My Axe truly great.

No complaints though folks....honestly, how many musicians have given us greater pleasure over the 30 years??

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Full Spectrum Indeed, December 7, 2006

By 

Kurt Harding "bon vivant" (Boerne TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Consequence of Chaos (Audio CD)

Why is it that so many music fans want the musicians they like to continually rehash their glory days? I read all the reviews and then listened to Consequence of Chaos a half dozen times and came away pretty much agreeing with the reviewer from Hungary who asks fans to listen to this CD on its own terms. While this CD may not be the heralded return to Al's electric days, it does at least touch on them while not forsaking his most recent direction. It covers the full spectrum of his talents indeed!
I have been an Al DiMeola fan from the start and have seen him live many times over the past thirty years. When he makes a new album, I don't want him to recreate favorites like Casino, Soaring Through A Dream, or Orange and Blue any more than I wish to hear him remake albums I didn't like so much like Kiss My Axe or Scenario. I want to hear something new! Consequence of Chaos, while not among his five best, is an album that has at least something to offer fans of all periods. With musicians like Chick Corea and Steve Gadd, he assures us of his respect for his early years. With long-time percussionist Gumbi Ortiz still on board, he reassures those most attuned to his later World Sinfonia projects.
There are no tunes on Consequence of Chaos that stand out for me either positively or negatively. I have been enjoying it in the office for half the day now and find its vibes to be extremely soothing and conducive to a productive day. DiMeola's mastery is such that you can close your eyes if you like, kick back, and the music will take your mind anywhere in the world you want to go!