The Grande Passion: World Sinfonia

• Artist: Al di Meola World Sinfonia
• Rating:
• Release Date: October 24, 2000
• Total Time: 59:39
• Genre: Jazz

Review

A rich, moody tapestry with flashes of fire, this CD incorporates elements of jazz, fusion, classical, Latin, tango, and Middle Eastern music. Sounding like the romantic soundtrack to an excellent foreign film, it's full of splendid moments, like the wash of colors on "Double Concerto," a sinuous composition by Al di Meola's "musical father and friend," Astor Piazzolla. Di Meola interprets two more beauties from the late Argentine tango legend -- the tender "Soledad" and the churning, incendiary "Libertango," where he uses MIDI technology to approximate the classic bandoleon sound -- and offers six of his own. One of them, the title track, could be the most gorgeous, soulful melody of 2000, stated in ways alternately delicate and powerful; when it finally crescendos it's like the ocean lifting, with the sun sparkling on it. His "Opus in Green," written with fine Argentine pianist Mario Parmisano, is very Return to Forever-like. Di Meola has phenomenal technique and a gift for unhackneyed writing; his famous blistering runs are in here, but only when they further the music -- not gratuitously added for their own sake. The arrangements by di Meola and Parmisano make optimal use of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and soloists, creating an organically textured whole rather than the stringy soup that too often drowns such collections. ~ Judith Schlesinger, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Misterio	Al di Meola	Al di Meola	(7:53)
Double Concerto	Astor Piazzolla	Al di Meola	(5:58)
Prelude: Adagio for Theresa	Al di Meola, Mario Parmisano	Al di Meola	(1:21)
The Grande Passion	Al di Meola	Al di Meola	(9:05)
Asia de Cuba	Al di Meola	Al di Meola	(8:58)
Soledad	Astor Piazzolla	Al di Meola	(7:37)
Opus Green	Al di Meola	Al di Meola	(10:20)
Libertango	Astor Piazzolla	Al di Meola	(5:07)
Azucar	Al di Meola	Al di Meola	(3:13)

Credits

Fred Rizner (Orchestra), Al di Meola (Arranger), Erica Goodman (Orchestra), Al di Meola (Percussion), Ted Jensen (Mastering), Arto Tuncboyaciyan (Percussion), John Patitucci (Bass (Acoustic)), Daniel Blackman (Orchestra), Virginia Wells (Orchestra), Mario Parmisano (Associate Producer), Kent Teeple (Viola), Michael Sweeney (Orchestra), Carol Fujino (Orchestra), Hernan Romero (Guitar), Arto Tuncboyaciyan (Vocals), Anilda Carrasquillo (Design), Al di Meola (Cymbals), Gilad (Percussion), Al di Meola (Roland Synthesizer), Christopher Redfield (Orchestra), Virginia Wells (Violin), Robert Woods (Executive Producer), Al di Meola (Guitar (Acoustic)), John Patitucci (Percussion), David Hetherington (Orchestra), Mario Parmisano (Percussion), David Hetherington (Cello), Al di Meola (String Arrangements), Roberto Occhipinti (Bass), Michael Mossman (Trumpet), Daniel Blackman (Viola), Oscar Feldman (Sax (Tenor)), Hernan Romero (Vocals), Wendy Rose (Orchestra), Erica Goodman (Harp), Gumbi Ortiz (Conga), Christopher Redfield (Viola), Bridget Hunt (Violin), David Baker (Engineer), Al di Meola (Oboe), Anilda Carrasquillo (Art Direction), Michael Sweeney (Bassoon), Harcus Hennigar (French Horn), Audrey King (Cello), Toronto Symphony Orchestra (?), Audrey King (Orchestra), Al di Meola (Dumbek), Al di Meola (Tambur), John Patitucci (Guitar (Bass)), Al di Meola (Piano (Electric)), Victoria Richard (Orchestra), Cynthia Steljes (Orchestra), Mario Parmisano (Piano), Fred Rizner (French Horn), Al di Meola (Producer), Hernan Romero (Charango), Wendy Rose (Violin), Bridget Hunt (Orchestra), Al di Meola (Bandoneon), Kent Teeple (Orchestra), Carol Fujino (Violin), Mario Parmisano (Synthesizer), Hernan Romero (Associate Producer), Roberto Occhipinti (Orchestra), Cynthia Steljes (Oboe), Victoria Richard (Violin)