Customer Reviews

Diabolic Inventions and Seduction for Solo Guitar, Vol. 1: Music of Astor Piazzolla

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This certainly isn't the first time Al DiMeola has covered the music of Astor Piazzolla, but its the first time he's done so acoustically. And as the "Vol 1" in the title implies, it hopefully will be just the first of many acoustic interpretations of Piazzolla's vast musical oeuvre.
Al DiMeola began covering Piazzolla nearly twenty years ago with the advent of his World Sinfonia project. Since that time, there have been other albums featuring some Piazzolla covers and at least one other, DiMeola plays Piazzolla, which was entirely devoted to him. Those were all excellent interpretations, but they were recorded with whatever group of musicians formed DiMeola's working band at the time. On Diabolic Inventions and Seduction for Solo Guitar, there is just Al and his guitar (with a little percussive help from long-time collaborator Hernan Romero), front and center, bringing Piazzolla to life in an entirely new way.
What I really like about this beyond the beauty of DiMeola's exquisite interpretations is that the songs he has chosen to cover range from the familiar to the obscure. Most casual Piazzolla fans know Adios Nonino and Milonga del Angel, but how many know such gems as Poemo Valseado, Campero and Milonga Carrieguera?
I give this CD five stars though I would shave off a half star if I could because at just under 40 minutes, this CD is far too short. Those fans of DiMeola expecting either another fusion album or world music outing can forget it. Diabolic Inventions and Seductions for Solo Guitar is a delightfully different way to hear the possibilities of tango expressed through the medium of the guitar. And I can think of no better guitar to do that than DiMeola's.

I have been a great fan of Al Di Meola for years, and still am. In fact, as a kid, Al's music was a gateway to me to the world of improvisation and jazz. He has always been a guitar hero to me.

Many years ago, when heard Al's recording "Cielo y Terra", I was so amazed to hear what could be described (then to me) as a Brazilian Zen guitar magical journey. The strange twilight zone arpeggios echoing through a steal string Ovation and accompanied by chanting bossa nova spirit is close to what I felt. More importantly, I felt very connected to his music and I believe understand the direction of his composition. That's what I love about Al the most, not only his unbelievable guitar technique but the compositions he chooses to play (whether his or someone else's. I like Al taste in music.

"Diabolic Inventions and Seduction for Solo Guitar, Vol. 1" - Is a beautiful album. The music and the interpretations of the compositions for the guitar were also great. But, I felt that the percussions need more of a human touch, something less loopy and more dynamic in quality (Mind you, I enjoy electronic music with samples and loops) but Al's music, in my opinion, calls for more of human touch to capture the spirit of the tunes that are so sacred, especially for this album.

For a time I believe this CD was only available from Di Meola's web site.

DELIGHTED it can now be considered by the Amazon-viewing community: This is a superb CD.

If you like Di Meola's style -- saw him again in concert recently and WOW! Wow-wow-wow-WOW! -- and the music of Piazzolla, then this is a must for your collection.

Can't wait for Vol. 2... 3... 4...

Kirtland Peterson

amazing album, to hear al on nylon is a long overdue delight , to hear him on nylon doing the amazingly beautiful music of piazzolla is the cat's meow , very different album with a percussion track behind him and no other instruments , really bold and cool , i have listened to this album a few times a week for over a year now , i guess that say's it all, be cool y'all............

Although AdM's guitar play is fine as ever, he has ruined this CD completely with these amateurish percussion loops. The first time you listen to this record, they are annoying. But the more often you listen, the more unbearable they become - obviously not played by human beings but sterile computer artefacts. Has AdM discovered Apple GarageBand and plays with its loops like a kid?

I gave this CD away before I really got angry about it.