About Al Di Meola
Albert Laurence Di Meola is an American guitarist. Known for his works in jazz fusion and world music, he began his career as guitarist with the group Return to Forever in 1974. The 1970s and 1980s saw albums such as Land of the Midnight Sun, Elegant Gypsy, Casino and Friday Night in San Francisco earn him both critical and commercial success.
Di Meola's career is peppered with high-profile collaborations. The list includes Chick Corea, Stanley Jordan, Jaco Pastorius, John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia, Jean-Luc Ponty, Steve Vai and others.
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, into an Italian family with roots in Cerreto Sannita, a small town northeast of Benevento, Di Meola grew up in Bergenfield, where he attended Bergenfield High School. He has been a resident of Old Tappan, New Jersey.
When he was eight years old, his discovery of Elvis Presley and the Ventures inspired him to start playing guitar. Hearing The Beatles for the first time, though, was what that truly cemented his desire to become a musician. His older sister introduced them to Al on the family's 1963 Christmas, through their Meet the Beatles! LP. "Listening to that album really changed my life", said Di Meola. Watching their string of appearences on the The Ed Sullivan Show, two months later, further strengthened his drive. Di Meola started his classes with guitar teacher Robert "Bob" Aslanian, who directed him toward jazz standards. He was also trained in theory, reading and other useful skills. "He was my biggest influence", said of his first teacher.
By the late 1960s, Di Meola became keenly aware of the rock explosion. Besides British Invasion acts such as The Rolling Stones and The Who, he was particularly fond of the stateside acts coming from California. He liked country rock stars The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers and Crosby, Stills and Nash, as well as the SF's Bay Area psychedelic rock scene, namely Moby Grape, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. "I loved all those bands", said he.
Although he grew to appreciate the "whole package" of late 1960s and early 1970s rock icons Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Carlos Santana, he never looked up to them as role models. "I never thought of the rock players as having good technique", he pondered. Di Meola was rather inspired by jazz guitarists George Benson and Kenny Burrell and bluegrass and country guitarists Clarence White and Doc Watson. His musical direction solidified when was exposed to jazz rock pioneers Larry Coryell and John McLaughlin.
Map & Directions To Venue
