Al Di Meola – Land of the Midnight Sun
BGO Records
www.bgo-records.com

Rating: B

Al Di Meola hit the scene in 1976 and his impact on the guitar community was felt immediately.  Al showed he could mix traditional jazz elements with more progressive modern elements of instrumental guitar and rock.  The album’s centerpiece is the three-part epic “Suite–Golden Dawn.”  Di Meola changed the face of his genre and inspired a generation of guitarists to follow.  Chick Corea knew a good thing when he heard it, and appeared on the album with Al on the acoustic duet “Short Tales of the Black Forest.” 

Al may have had bigger and better albums, but his debut is certainly worthy of the remastering that BGO records has given it.  This one sounds good and the guitar playing is impressive. 

This one is worth owning for those who have the vinyl in the closet on the top shelf and need to be taken back in time, or for the novice seeking out influential albums from the past.

By Jeb Wright