June 14-20, 2018
JUNE 14-20, 2018 FACEBOOK.COM/WHATZUPFTWAYNE // WWW.WHATZUP.COM ----------------------- Feature • Al Di Meola --------------------- Master of the Guitar By Deborah Kennedy tar player. In the early 80s, he turned more toward the electric side of things, writing and recording Electric Like Mozart, New Jersey-born guitarist Al Di Rendezvous and Scenario, which included the key- Meola has sometimes been criticized for playing too board work of Jan Hammer, who would go on to com- many notes. The criticism is actually a compliment in pose the theme to the television show Miami Vice. disguise. Di Meola, who will be at the Clyde Theater Guitar in all its forms is Di Meola’s primary pas- Wednesday, June 20 at 7 p.m., is able to blaze through sion. He also loves to collaborate with other artists, and songs so quickly, listeners are often left stunned by his in 1980, he teamed up with flamenco guitarist Paco de passion, technique and precision. Lucia and British fusion guitarist John McLaughlin to Di Meola grew up in Bergenfield, New Jersey and release Friday Night in San Francisco, a beloved and began playing guitar at eight years old. His love of popular live recording of three musicians at the top of Elvis inspired him to pick up the instrument. Later, he their game. became an enthusi- Since then, ast for jazz, country Di Meola has played and bluegrass. Still with basically ev- later, he enrolled eryone, including at the prestigious Paul Simon, Car- Berklee College of los Santana, Steve Music in Boston, Winwood, Herbie and his education Hancock, Stevie continued when, at Wonder, Les Paul, age 19, he was re- Jimmy Page, Frank cruited by keyboard- Zappa and Luciano ing and composing Pavarotti.
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