Splendido Hotel

Al Di Meola

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Original Release Date: 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000273K
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #186,726 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Al Di Meola earned his stripes playing alongside Stanley Clarke and Chick Corea in Return to Forever, but he made his most compelling personal statements with 1980's Splendido Hotel and its precursor, Elegant Gypsy. Di Meola's compositional embrace of Argentinean tango (on a duet with Corea), Brazilian bossa (the romantic "Silent Story in Her Eyes"), and flamenco compas (the overdubbed solo piece "Splendido Sundance") made him more than just another fast guitar player and paved the way for his future work with John McLaughlin and Paco DeLucia. Here he duets with Les Paul on Bert Kaempfert's comfy "Spanish Eyes," tries his hand at singing an up-tempo soul number ("I Can Tell"), blazes through odd-meter jazz-rockers ("Dinner Music of the Gods"), and closes with the acoustic "Bianca's Midnight Lullaby." This is an ambitious--and very long--set with contributions from Anthony Jackson, Steve Gadd, Phillipe Saisse, and Jan Hammer. --James Rotondi

Product Description
Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. 2007. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Al Dimeola is absolutely amazing on Splendido Hotel!, August 8, 1999

By A Customer

The reviews I happened to read before logging this entry were so off the mark I felt compelled to comment. Not only is the song writing fresh and exciting but Al's blistering yet remarkably clean and crisp guitar gymnastics have an eye opening, throat claring, mind boggeling effect on anyone who appreciates fine musicianship! Al is simply stated an American Treasure!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spledido Hotel..., January 26, 2006

By	D. S. HARDEN "a movie fan" (L.A.,CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just purchased Splendido Hotel for $9.99 new! Years ago, I had the album on wax, but never did give it a good listen. I put the CD in my PC (at work, no less), and gave it a good listen. My conclusion? This album has something for everyone. Gang, it's not as bad as some of the reviewers have said. I actually like "I can tell" where Al sings (he sounds okay...), I like the music better (of course!). Get yourself an inexpensive copy and enjoy! Four stars...why?..."Elegant Gypsy" is head and shoulders over "Splendido Hotel!" That's why!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Al DiMeola's most ambitious works, June 12, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Chico, Ca) - See all my reviews

When I first heard this album, I had to listen to it three or four times before I could listen to any other. The range that is expressed here is probably unparalleled in anything that he has done before or since. The opening track explodes with an Arabian sound mixed with the lightning fast fusion of the mid 1970's. Paired with his old band mate Chick Corea in "Tango For Two", the two weave an acoustic splendor with a crystal clear Latin punch. And there could be no other name for "Dinner Music Of The Gods", a big rumbling piece with plenty of fast rifs and bass drum action.