egroj world: Al Di Meola • Winter Nights

Monday, December 9, 2024

Al Di Meola • Winter Nights

Review by Richard S. Ginell
Al di Meola's first so-called Christmas album is a relaxed, flowing, intensely musical affair that jazzers, world music buffs, and new agers will feel equally comfortable with. Mostly, he steers away from the often-cracked chestnuts, composing several nice tunes of his own ("Zima," the leadoff cut, is especially inviting), playing acoustic guitar and a battery of percussion instruments and keyboards in a graceful one-man band, thanks to multi-track tape. Other tracks feature duets between di Meola (with overdubbed additional instruments) and Roman Hrynkiv, who plays a Ukrainian zither-like instrument called the bandura. For the die-hard consumer who must have those carols, there are intricate renditions of "The First Noel," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "Carol of the Bells."
https://www.allmusic.com/album/winter-nights-mw0000257721

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Reseña de Richard S. Ginell
El primer álbum de Navidad de Al di Meola es un asunto relajado, fluido e intensamente musical con el que los jazzistas, los aficionados a la música del mundo y los new age se sentirán igualmente cómodos. Sobre todo, se aleja de las castañas a menudo agrietadas, componiendo varios temas bonitos propios ("Zima", el corte principal, es especialmente atractivo), tocando la guitarra acústica y una batería de instrumentos de percusión y teclados en una elegante banda unipersonal, gracias a la cinta multipista. Otras pistas presentan duetos entre di Meola (con instrumentos adicionales sobredimensionados) y Roman Hrynkiv, que toca un instrumento ucraniano parecido a la cítara llamado bandura. Para el consumidor empedernido que debe tener esos villancicos, hay intrincadas interpretaciones de "El primer noel", "Ten una feliz navidad" y "Cuento de las campanas".
https://www.allmusic.com/album/winter-nights-mw0000257721

aldimeola.com ...

Tracklist:

1 - Zima - 4:05
2 - Carol Of The Bells - 4:11
3 - Winterlude Duet No. 1 - 1:27
4 - Greensleeves - 2:46
5 - Mercy Street - 4:52
6 - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - 4:32
7 - Winterlude No. 2 - 0:51
8 - Midwinter Nights - 4:50
9 - Scarborough Fair - 4:36
10 - Winterlude No. 3 - 0:47
11 - The First Noel - 3:13
12 - Inverno - 5:38
13 - First Snow - 2:43
14 - Winterlude No. 4 - 1:31
15 - Ave Maria - 4:51

Credits:
    Arranged By – Al Di Meola
    Art Direction, Cover [Cover Design] – Anilda Carrasquillo
    Co-producer – Hernan Romero
    Edited By [Digital] – Spyros Poulos
    Engineer – Rich Tozzoli, Spyros Poulos
    Executive-Producer – Robert Woods
    Illustration, Calligraphy [Cover Lettering] – Thomas Macko
    Liner Notes – Al Di Meola
    Mastered By – Michael Bishop
    Mixed By – Al Di Meola, Hernan Romero, Rich Tozzoli, Spyros Poulos
    Photography By [Inside Photo] – Bill Hickey
    Producer – Al Di Meola
    Recorded By – Rich Tozzoli, Spyros Poulos

Label: Telarc ‎– CD-83458
Released: 1999
Genre: Jazz, Pop
Style: Contemporary Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/Al-Di-Meola-Winter-Nights/release/2567715