From a young age it was clear that Al Di Meola had a special gift. When he was just 19 years old, the giant pianist plucked him from obscurity and pulled him into the ranks of Return To Forever, the most successful jazz fusion group of all time. Billboard top 40s, commercial success and international touring followed. It couldn't have been a better start to Di Meola's career. Back then, it was his speed and dexterity on the guitar neck that impressed Corea, yet Di Meola has shown far more that mere virtuosity in his career since those heady days of early success.
Joined by guitarist Chris Carrington and percussionist Arto Tunçboyacıyan, he plays a show named "World Sinfonia" in a country that has hosted him several times: Germany. It is a fitting title for a Di Meola concert – he's a man who has travelled when it comes to music, mastering styles from jazz to Latin to Mediterranean. Here, he spins a repertoire that includes a track by his early mentor, Chick Corea as well as "Heru Mertar," which is penned by the percussionist and original compositions. It is a concert marked by learning, elegance and joy.
