Comparing early
Al di Meola dates like
Land of the Midnight Sun and
Casino to his albums of the 1990s, it's clear how much his playing has softened. The exceptional
World Sinfonia, an entirely acoustic CD, makes it clear that what hasn't changed is his unpredictable, spontaneous nature.
Di Meola's right-hand man throughout this highly introspective date is the soulful bandonean player
Dino Saluzzi, with whom he enjoys an undeniably strong rapport. A long-time lover of
world music,
di Meola incorporates South American, Spanish, and Middle Eastern elements, and makes Argentine
tango a very high priority. The improvisor's reverence for Argentina's musical heritage is especially evident on
Astor Piazzola's haunting
"Tango Suite" and
di Meola's soul-bearing ode to the
tango legend,
"Last Tango for Astor." But
World Sinfonia's standout track and most pleasant surprise of all is a 12-minute interpretation of
Chick Corea's 1975
Return to Forever classic
"No Mystery," which works quite well in an acoustic setting. ~ Alex Henderson
