Legendary Jazz Guitarist - Al Di Meola Interview 🎸

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Mitch Gallagher sits down with one of the most renowned players in jazz guitar, Al Di Meola.
#Sweetwater #AlDiMeola

[@AndreSonsOfSamael]

Mitch its a really great interviewer, he always knows what he's talking about and asks thoughtful questions

[@ShredHeadJHJ]

Only problem with Mitch is that he needs to shave his beard in a symmetrical fashion.

[@miguelfonseca7973]

@@ShredHeadJHJ Agree!

[@ME-lf7by]

Totally agree.. always great interviews by this guy. It's one thing to get an interview with a legend but another thing completely to get something that is interesting to listen to.

[@ivonsmith3095]

Excellent to see a nice relaxed but intelligent interview with Al. One of my favorite musicians for 35 years!

[@charlesrast4235]

I was already a professional guitar player when I first heard Al. He and Zappa are my influeces

[@tinfoilhatter]

i always wanted to meet paul too! but when my brother and i met al, out in the field before a concert, he was just walkin' around, that was the ultimate mind-frack, man, that childlike awkwardness as a young adult, it was like 1989 or 1990, i could hardly speak but it was memorable.. i felt taller , even if i never felt that great as a guitar-god, til recent years, ha ha!... kiss-my-axe, was the next thing after that, and that thing kicks ass, jack!

[@cweefy]

I am 59 years old and have loved al's music since I was a teenager and this is the first time I have ever heard him speak.

[@shawnreese6538]

Met Al around 1980 when I was about 19, he's a great guy and one of the top player/writers of all time. Ironically, he was demoing a new ovation with a built in piezo midi pickup, and I got my very first guitar synth this year. He gave me some playing tips and encouraged me. Awesome talent, and real person.

[@tinfoilhatter]

hey! you're mason reese! i know you, right?? ha ha! yeah, al's too dang kool to kalypso, man! i wouldn't frack wit'm! but he seems like a great guy, music'ly i mean!

[@Frodojack]

Hard to believe he's 65 years old. He looks twenty years younger.

[@edwindantes539]

He's Italian, what do you expect, we ALWAYS look younger than we are. My grandfather died at 95, everyone thought he was in his 70's and couldn't believe it.

[@randywilloughby4360]

Mitch is 65?! He does look 20 years younger!!

[@mememetal666]

@@CoolGuyWithShoesOn you are correct but a really good wig .. lol

[@tinfoilhatter]

i heard, fauci is his doctor! go figure, ha ha

[@lwmson]

@@edwindantes539 It's not so much Italian as it is him having a hair transplant. Check out this interview with him back about 40 years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXa3nWZqpKx6r5Y He was in his 20's and because he was starting to lose hair, he looked at 10 years older. BTW, there was another jazz guitar legend who was Italian, the late Joe Pass. He always looked at least 10 older than his actual age, largely because he went bald in early adulthood. But unlike Al, hair transplant technology wasn't effective in his day.

[@chafungwa]

I have never heard him speak. He’s like a professor, very intellectual. Great guy. Love his music. Just a great guy

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

Years ago i had a friend who scored a audio recoding of Al at G.I.T doing a clinic and like you said he came off very intellictual and professor like. I leanred a LOT from that clinic. he talked about how he picked and the fast runs.

[@abfranklin8492]

So cool to hear Al talk about the Beatles being mind blowing. I saw Di Meola play with Return To Forever right after he joined the band. He was reading music on stage. Blew me away.

[@marcgerome7966]

Cielo e Terra is my favourite and one of the best guitar albums of all time. I still listen to it for it's mysterious mood.

[@StreetsOfVancouverChannel]

Agreed... the remastered version on CD sounds fabulous

[@mikewallace1270]

Me too!

[@Grimpus1972]

I couldn’t agree more!

[@reidwhitton6248]

@@StreetsOfVancouverChannel The BGO 3 album set is a great re-issue. I'm a huge fan of Tirami Su as well.

[@mjs28c]

Saw him July 1978, Central Park NYC. Opening act: UK........with an unknown guitarist by the name of.....Allan Holdsworth. Great gig.

[@opamuller626]

I came here from Mr. Di Meola's Facebook account where he had posted the link to this video and I haven't regretted it for a second. I spent thirty minutes literally glued to the screen. First, because Al Di Meola is as great a talker as he is a guitarrist. Second, because the interviewer did a phenomenal job to make this time worthwhile for the person he was interviewing. Bravo! Love and admiration to Al Di Meola for sharing with us his deep and meaningful thoughts and enthralling stories his life is so full of. Great respect to Mr. Gallagher's professionalism and warmth.

[@alexangeloallen]

Finally a really great interview with Al, his playing is so wonderful and awe inspiring, I hope he does more interviews like this so we can learn from him 🎵

[@aussie_philosopher8079]

Have u heard the last 3 albums they are extraordinary

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

He's a real composer and musician. I love his early albums from the 70's like "Casino", "Elegant Gypsy" and "Land of the Midnight Sun." I should pickup some of his later work.

[@Kroeber38]

Al's playing in Lady of Rome and Sister of Brazil is so moving that it sometimes makes me cry, literally.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I saw him perform in NYC with Return to Forever, and after that, I thought O.M.G. - I need to practice. It was EPIC and just blew-me-away. Phenomenal Guitar Player.

[@sonicbridge1944]

Fabulous and intriguing interview! Love these, Mitch. Keep 'em coming.

[@SteveKaynan]

Awesome thank you so much for interviewing Al!!

[@JimmyMadighan]

Absolute pleasure watching this interview. Applauding a great work 👏

[@911truthfarmer]

One of the best interviews I've enjoyed in quite some time, thanks Mitch and Al and Sweetwater!

[@sweetwater]

😊👍

[@marknash7113]

This is the most personal interview of Al I have ever seen by far. Great job Mitch! I have been a fan since his RTF days. The discussion of his musical path and return to the more melodic music obviously really engaged him. Can't wait for Vol 2 of the Beatles tribute.

[@davetbassbos]

Great interview, thanks!

[@sweetwater]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@bryanyasuhara2994]

This is how an interview should be. Awesome.

[@StreetsOfVancouverChannel]

His KISS MY AXE tour that rolled into Vancouver was a stunning show all those years ago... Al Di Meola is a truly fascinating songwriter and performer.

[@tinfoilhatter]

what frickin' *planet*, are we on now, and where did that guy come from, riiight??

[@tns4421]

We have to look up to this person...so clean thought and words...so down to Earth as a legend....amazing human...

[@Fendergibson51]

Very intelligent and great interview! I have been following Al Di Meola since the 70’s, I highly admire his playing skills. His music motivated my brother and I to learn to play guitar. Al has motivated many to learn guitar. His explanation about the “heart” and “intellect “ was inspirational. How some songs touch the intellect and others the heart. Al Di Meola, “Thank You”!

[@tinfoilhatter]

anybody can be considered a virtuoso, but it takes a real one to know a real one, so i still think ace frehley's the shit! ha ha [but seriously, guys like bruce cockburn, are effing impossibly good- and yeah, i bet al is the king of impossibly awesome virtuositism!]

[@TLMuse]

As a teen in the 70s, I first fell in love with the guitar when I discovered the music of the Beatles. It wasn't long after that that I discovered Al's music, and became a solid fan. I've followed him since *Elegant Gypsy* came out. Needless to say, I was thrilled when he did an album of arrangements of Beatles tunes several years ago. So I really appreciated how much he spoke about his Beatles influence here, and how excited he was to record at Abbey Road. This was the first I heard of him meeting Sir Paul, and this is the first I've heard of him having just recorded a second album of Beatles arrangements. Thanks, Mitch, for a solid, one-of-a-kind interview with this master composer and player. And thanks, Al, for opening up in this interview-and for the decades of great music. -Tom

[@JayYarbroughMusic]

Best interview I've seen in...., well.., a long time. Brilliant!

[@haldumille5594]

oh man, this has been the best half hour I have spent in quite some time. This was totally great, thanks!

[@sweetwater]

Thanks for watching, Hal! 😁

[@tinfoilhatter]

@@sweetwater unforgettable!

[@andyoc]

Just a great interview, this series is excellent!

[@charlesrast4235]

Al is such a nice respectful guy I really like him

[@metahed]

These are great! Really enjoying all these awesome interviews! Thanks for taking the time to do these Sweetwater! Rock on!

[@sweetwater]

😁👍

[@MarshallAmpMan]

Excellent interview, thank you Mitch!

[@sweetwater]

👍

[@wendelllanders8439]

Saw this current line up in Houston!Amazing players all!I grew up learning Al’s compositions in my early teen years 16 onward and has been a big influence in my writing and playing ever since.Thanks Al for all you have given and continue to give!!!!

[@jasonabrahammusic3613]

Great interview love Al one of my favorite players he’s the man.

[@mattildahubbardo]

I was always a big al di meola fan. Great interview

[@ColaDose52]

This was a really great interview. Al was stuck in the baggage claim during the last year of operations at Riem(MUC) waiting for a bag(or maybe he had to come back for one of his guitars, don't remember exactly) I approached him and asked if there was anything I could help him with-- it turned out to be a really nice talk. He was playing at the Burghausen Jazz Fest if I remember correctly and even back then the music industry was changing from the 70's when I had last seen him perform. This brings back a good memory for me and writing about it has brought back good memories of concerts in Chicago and Munich. Happy trails, Al!

[@kamaboko1]

Great interview!

[@rexroman5211]

A blend of the heart and mind....exactly!

[@gt7058]

Great interview with one of the great guitarist out there.

[@rodrigotamayo6069]

Informativa y muy interesante entrevista a uno de los más influyentes de la guitarra Al Di Meola es GRANDE

[@tr3ndkiller]

Saw him at "Blue Note" in Napa recently and he absolutely killed it. Super relaxed and fun atmosphere and they also did a killer Beatles medley which was a nice surprise.

[@aussie_philosopher8079]

I LOVE AL DI MEOLA, all the albums made in the 2000s are extraordinary, particary the last 3. Di MEOLA doesn't seem to age, lucky.

[@owar47]

I am lucky and grateful that my teenage life was full of adventures seeking and looking for informations concerning THAT GUY! ! ! I spent my whole highschool life putting together pieces of material i could find, some sheet music from some shady guitar magazine with only two licks and the rest you have to figure out by ear , and i could cry over a small clip showing what magic and joy these masters could bring (mclaughlin, de lucia and di meola) . Thank you for existing and the best day in my life was the time i shook your hand Mr Di Meola !

[@courtcomposer]

Great interview great player. Best guitarist composer of our time.

[@leftyfusion88]

Seeing Al mimic air guitar as he's explaining his composing sounds amazing! haha!! I got to see him once about 25 years ago at Club Bene in Sayerville, NJ sitting about 5 feet away from our table. Pretty jaw dropping.

[@cmath8577]

Thank you for this

[@williamrobinson7061]

An excellent interview! As soon as al got warmed up. He is a great personality; he should do more of this!

[@AhmedAli-jx7eh]

Great interview 👌🏻

[@professorhamamoto]

Nice interview. Learned a good deal.

[@peterpeper4837]

That was really so great ! Well done !

[@sweetwater]

Thanks, Peter! 😎🤘

[@robinjames29]

great interview

[@AladimGTR]

Al is one of the best guitarists who ever lived, for sure! Thanks for making this interview!

[@pabloperez4063]

There are as many BEST guitarrists as prettiest Girls in ThE world-----765.876.876

[@stevemorse108]

Very down to earth and straightforward...for a genius.

[@SavagetheMaker]

This is probably his best interview. Mitch really helped Al make it inspiring.

[@renleblanc2993]

Great interview - way to ask about his creative process!

[@reidwhitton6248]

Thanks, Mitch!

[@Hassan_Omer]

Really loved the interview.

[@sweetwater]

😊👍

[@murathalilozturk3733]

Wow. What a great interview with a legend

[@jamescarlucci9867]

Amazing interview..he's my god damn musical hero..

[@SATedeschi]

Thanks for sharing. Al is great composer. Can't wait for a symphony that Al writes, even though he is the guitar man.

[@mikewallace1270]

That’s how you do an interview!

[@sweetwater]

🙂👊

[@tinfoilhatter]

@@sweetwater hey! have you met luke lukather? i heard, that kat is also real fierce- but i bet you can handle him!

[@glassslide]

Al = Maestro; Fantastic interview!!

[@Genesis817]

nice interview fellas thx

[@sweetwater]

Thanks for watching, J!

[@kor2112]

I got the opportunity to run monitors for Al last time he played Austin! It was a great show!

[@aussie_philosopher8079]

Is he using Fuchs amps and monitors ??? Is scared of making a mistake with such a high calibre musician, he is relentless is his pursuit for perfection which is respectable

[@kor2112]

Not for that set. It was acoustic. It has been 6 months or so but think he had a JBL PA system for his guitar along with the house monitors EAWs. It is always a little intimidating working with artist like him, but I work with a lot of high caliber musicians

[@patrickmurphy4469]

@@kor2112 At One World? That was a great show!

[@kor2112]

patrick murphy yes it is Scott.

[@miguelfonseca7973]

Mitch; I love your interviews!

[@Jeff_H_the_Guitarist]

Love Al's playing. I'm thinking as a kid he musta read Dr. Suess' "Oh, The Places You'll Go" because Oh, the places his music goes.

[@MrAxman53]

I had the good fortune to see Return to Forever when they were touring Romantic Warrior on the college circuit back in the 70s in New England. I've been following Al's career ever since. Such a collection of brilliant composers and players...

[@vinylsurfer2155]

Nailed it!!

[@MrGTO-ze7vb]

Fantastic interview with the original shredder..!! I saw Al play in South Miami Beach during the Miami Yacht show.. He was playing in a small dinner club on a Thursday evening with a bunch of Paul Reed Smith guitars. Just had to purchase 1 drink to hang out....!! That is a funny story about renting a house next to Paul McCartney in the Hamptons.. Teach Paul how to play Flamenco

[@woodshome11]

Great interview, interesting all the way through.

[@gumbiOrtiz]

Great interview Mitch

[@diaperwiper]

I set up a room for one of his shows a couple months ago. Despite Al's obvious talent, an odd thing occurred while he was rehearsing. He asked his manager to record one of their songs during rehearsal so they could post it to his FB page. The manager then stepped onstage and showed the band the video and let them hear and watch it. Al immediately made some comments to his touring sound engineer about how he thought his guitar sounded "thin" and "brittle" through the iPhone. I was honestly shocked that a guitar player of this caliber was critiquing his own guitar tone based on a video that was taken and then being played back to him by a cell phone!

[@georgescannelli3814]

Great Great job Mich!,

[@mrliburd8823]

Al ...if you don't no him and his music playing styles and the most wonderful journey full imaginative creative different sweet futuristic fantastic the only meola

[@glennwirth7334]

Al the great !!! Excellent interview Al talk’s I listen 👂

[@rick381v69]

I agree with Al, why did you stop. This was great but we needed another hour. Mitch you are a great interviewer, you ask great questions and allow time for thorough answers.

[@teresebuchanan959]

Sounds like a great guitar. I have not had an electric guitar since my grad school days. It would be great fun to have this one!

[@marcocosmic]

I got to see/listen to Al and his group at MI in 1991 during the 1st World Sinfonia recording. One of the most powerful music experiences ever.

[@aussie_philosopher8079]

13.00 Al touches on something important , a great melody or harmony that really captures you instead of everything being technical.

[@ryanplays]

fantastic

[@Domenico_Rinaldi]

Great storyteller, great mucisian

[@Dolores5000]

Fantastic

[@AlbertoMartinezDelRio]

Great Al.

[@luckyirvin]

al di meola rocks like no other al di meola makes my heart sing

[@micahj894]

It is so true about having your heart affected by music; that is the real point of writing/composing in my opinion. Al Di Meola's World Sinfonía III - The Grande Passion is one of the most moving and best albums ever made in all of music.

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

I am a older guitarist and i am not going to lie hearing Al talk about the "way things were" before the computer age has me really wanting to go offline and return to my roots. I played so much more before i got involved with the internet.Needless to say Al D was a huge influence on my playing and i still remember playing "Race with the devil" over and over on my turntable trying to understand how he picked so clean. Land of the midnight sun was also a record that had a big impact on my playing.

[@glenkepic3208]

This was great ! I heard Al's take on "Norwegian Wood" from the recently released Across The Universe on a local Jazz station. Amazing !! btw, 'Go to the stereo' but we go to the computer. I have 2 and use the bedroom rig to feed an amp with head phones. Apt life... Sorta funny, last disc I bought new was Santana IV. Gave it to my wife. saw Al twice, Winterland opening for Weather Report, Carlos Santana for the encore. Davies for the Trio. '85. Steve Morse the opener and 'guest' for the encore I'll never forget that.

[@robertdintsch1583]

Thx!

[@jayheinz4624]

Good to see you Mitch! Wonderful interview !!👍 And did you get to jam with Al??🎶🐦

[@sammiam10019]

Elegant Gypsy! It's been too long since I've played it. Guess I have to dig out the vinyl...

[@zulmaazuaga406]

Meu músico favorito... ❤

[@ronhoffman7941]

Wicked good !!!

[@Dwoed]

I'm totally syncopated by this interview...nice. You can call him Al :-)

[@ricardoerdoscappon3640]

22:42 this is gold

[@brooklynboy1000]

looks like Robbie Robertson... in that cool jaded way Elegant Gypsy was a stunning record to discover at 12 years old. hot guitar, great melodies, insane percussion and synth leads.. great players.. no computer bs, no protools editing...fat analog sound. Al is the real deal,, and then hear him with Paco and John.. magnifique... You can see the sadness though, seeing the industry change, and how the artist cannont sell many records anymore.. Buy his records people... support GREAT talent.

[@andrewthesea]

very interesting comments of Al about timing

[@Cr8Tron]

Yeah, if it were me doing the interview, I would've definitely at that point taken advantage, of asking the question about whether or not it's just as important being able to sometimes partially *ignore* what another player is doing (so, that you can keep your "internal clocks" intact). Great interview nevertheless.

[@TheSpoonwood]

Great interview .... The McCartney story is killing'

[@renleblanc2993]

Agree with the comment from Al that many of the newer great online players don't focus enough on composition - they should heed these words!

[@RockyH.]

I've heard about this guy for a long time.

[@stringsnare]

i can't believe he is 65 here. its crazy.

[@MP-ju4ol]

Going to see Al in Oakland at Yoshi’s 3-19-22. Last saw him in ‘82 electric w Steve Gadd Tour de Force. Great interview!

[@MP-ju4ol]

Replying to myself……..wow, my memory. I saw Al w Return To Forever reunion in SF. Amazing fusion.