Al Di Meola

Al Di Meola (born July 22, 1954) is an American jazz fusion guitarist.

Di Meola was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. In 1971, he enrolled in the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1974 he joined Chick Corea's band, Return to Forever, and played with the band until they broke up in 1976.

Di Meola went on to explore a variety of styles, but is noted for his Latin influenced fusion works. He is a four time winner as Best Jazz Guitarist in Guitar Player Magazine's Reader Poll.

In addition to a prolific solo career, he has engaged in successful collaborations with bassist Stanley Clarke, violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, and guitarists John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia.

Discography

Solo Works

1. Land of the Midnight Sun (1976)
2. Elegant Gypsy (1977)
3. Casino (1978)
4. Splendido Hotel (1980)
5. Electric Rendezvous (1982)
6. Tour De Force - Live (1982)
7. Scenario (1983)
8. Cielo E Terra (1985)
9. Soaring Through a Dream (1985)
10. Tirami Su (1987)
11. World Sinfonia (1990)
12. Kiss My Axe (1991)
13. Orange and Blue (1994)
14. World Sinfonia II - Heart of the Immigrants (1993)
15. Al Di Meola Play Piazzolla (1996)
16. The Infinite Desire (1998)
17. Winter Nights (1999)
18. Flesh on Flesh (2002)
19. Al DiMeola revisited (2003)

Collaborations

1. Friday Night in San Francisco (1981) with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia
2. Passion, Grace & Fire (1983) with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia
3. Rite Of Strings (1996) with Stanley Clarke and Jean-Luc Ponty
4. The Guitar Trio (1996) with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia