Al Di Meola • Casino

Review by Daniel Gioffre

Following up the superb Elegant Gypsy was no mean feat, but Al di Meola gave it his best shot with the similarly styled Casino, released in 1978. Featuring a core band of Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson, and Barry Miles (whom di Meola came up with before the guitarist was invited to join Return to Forever), the playing is sharp and fiery, matching the youthful intensity of the leader. Di Meola is a good composer in the fusion idiom, and the four original compositions on Casino, although clearly bearing the mark of Chick Corea's influence, are strong. His "Fantasia Suite for Two Guitars," featuring di Meola accompanying himself via multi-tracking, is beautiful and dramatic, and hints at the guitarist's later all-acoustic works such as Friday Night in San Francisco. "Dark Eye Tango" opens with a slow theme before turning into an uptempo vehicle for di Meola's darting Les Paul. In fact, it is the leader's solos that frequently prevent the Latin grooves and rhythms found on Casino from sounding stale and a bit dated. His trademark staccato phrasing and high-velocity improvisations are what is noticed upon first listen, but di Meola does have an excellent sense of phrasing that is undeniably present. Contrary to popular opinion, he knows how to use his technique to good effect. Casino is not as strong as either Elegant Gypsy or Romantic Warrior, but is nevertheless well worth picking up for fans either of di Meola himself or of the entire 1970s fusion scene.

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Traducción Automática:
Reseña por Daniel Gioffre

Seguir al magnífico Elegant Gypsy no fue poca cosa, pero Al di Meola dio lo mejor de sí con el Casino de estilo similar, lanzado en 1978. Con una banda central de Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson y Barry Miles (a quien se le ocurrió a di Meola antes de que el guitarrista fuera invitado a unirse a Return to Forever), la interpretación es aguda y ardiente, a juego con la intensidad juvenil del líder. Di Meola es un buen compositor en el idioma de la fusión, y las cuatro composiciones originales de Casino, aunque claramente llevan la marca de la influencia de Chick Corea, son fuertes. Su "Suite Fantasia para Dos Guitarras", con Di Meola acompañándose a sí mismo a través de múltiples pistas, es hermosa y dramática, y alude a los trabajos posteriores totalmente acústicos del guitarrista, como Friday Night in San Francisco. "Dark Eye Tango" comienza con un tema lento antes de convertirse en un vehículo uptempo para la Les Paul de Di Meola. De hecho, son los solos del líder los que con frecuencia evitan que los ritmos y ritmos latinos que se encuentran en Casino suenen rancios y un poco anticuados. Su característico fraseo entrecortado e improvisaciones de alta velocidad son lo que se nota en la primera escucha, pero di Meola tiene un excelente sentido del fraseo que está innegablemente presente. Contrariamente a la opinión popular, él sabe cómo usar su técnica con buenos resultados. Casino no es tan fuerte como Elegant Gypsy o Romantic Warrior, pero vale la pena elegirlo para los fanáticos del propio di Meola o de toda la escena de fusión de la década de 1970.

aldimeola.com ...

 

Tracks Listing
1. Egyptian Danza (5:57)
2. Chasin' the Voodoo (5:05)
3. Dark Eye Tango (5:25)
4. Señor Mouse (7:21)
5. Fantasia Suite for Two Guitars (5:12) :
- a. Viva La Danzarina
- b. Guitars Of The Exotic Isle
- c. Rhapsody Italia
- d. Bravoto Fantasia
6. Casino (9:29)

 Musicians
- Al DiMeola / electric guitar, acoustic guitar & mandolin (5), percussion (congas, bongos, castanets, handclaps) arranger & producer
With:
- Barry Miles / Yamaha organ, Mini Moog, acoustic & electric pianos, marimba
- Anthony Jackson / bass
- Steve Gadd / drums
- Mingo Lewis / percussion (6), bongos & congas (3,4,6)
- Eddie Colon / percussion & timbales (6)

Release Date: 1978
Duration: 38:29
Genre: Jazz
Styles:
Fusion
Guitar Virtuoso
Jazz-Rock
Guitar Jazz
Jazz Instrument
Recording Location: Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY






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