Al Di Meola - Egyptian Danza/Race With Devil on Spanish Higw

[bman462]

did he win the race i think so

[mikef361]

would love to see AL and yngwie Malmsteen go head to head in a duel and watch yngwie walk away shaking his head thinking wow he's a real guitar player!!

[mrmogensen]

1:12 That is one Badass Black Bassplayer !

[mikef361]

@mrmogensen when you are a badass you only play with basasses

[jonathanguitar27]

Had the pleasure of seeing him "race with the devil..." (my personal favorite of his) was his last song... this is a great vid Thank you for posting

[colinthewot]

he isnt a shredder!!

[jjobie]

@colinthewot He's considered one of the founders of modern 'shred' guitar playing.

[faivision]

denzel on bass

[AmpegADA6]

What album is this off of?

[TheReighnart]

At about 1:40

"You're in The People's Court!"

[gbarrancos1]

cocaine...lol

[topdog2328]

i cannot tell, is the keyboard player a girl or guy?

[triofdoom]

@topdog2328

a guy, Kai Akagi

[Scottwax]

Saw him in Dallas in the late 70s, just an amazing guitarist!

[ptdatnurpipensmkit]

Am i blind or is that gilbert sitting behind al

[neoranger15243]

wasn't he like the first shredder from the 60s?

He brought the new age of guitar!!!

[SuperElectricPower]

even geeks can shred

[adewolf]

Great stuff, but where are the ladies?

[grooovedigga]

looks like "the unit" on drums..............

[dgarvin1]

Back when musicians were actually talented

[CBDPLAYER]

@dgarvin1 are you saying there are no talented musicians today?

[dgarvin1]

@CBDPLAYER I think what I meant is this: back then it was more about the music than it is about entertainment (now). Entertainment definitely trumps actual musical ability, I don't think anyone can deny that.

[abidyo]

Those who says he sucks just because he plays Classical/Nylon strings should be shredded by his shredding

[pulpzeppelin]

way too bad ass, can barely handle it... maybe a bit loser than the studio versions but this is video evidence that i) Ali Di Meola does not give a fuck and ii) Al di Meola is the BADDEST MOTHER FUCKER ON THE PLANET

[Youthinasiano]

As a Fusioneer,this brings back memories of when music was music,and fusion rocked the rooves of concert halls.Clarke,Duke,Passport,Pon­ty, Di Meola.How i miss those times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dragonsbaynn]

wow never seen Wekle with Al, classic

[penhita90]

yoko ono on keyboards

[williamindragunawan]

@penhita90 sadly, the keyboard player's name n the end is a dude..

Kei Akagi

[whitedress01]

@penhita90 THATS FUNNY!

[eric1love]

:27 seconds in, LOL @ guy in background, he's prolly syain to himself " ahhhh crap, this friggin song is damn complicated"

[jeffyuuta]

Keyboard　はケイ赤城さん？

[deathpunch95]

Definitely one of the best guitar player!!

Al the boss

[JacqueShredo]

I wish Al would put out another album that had great songs on it like this

[rkelly62]

I think the band members were not quite up to these couple of tunes. Not easy finding people that can play this stuff. Not everybody is Gadd, Hammer, Jackson and Lewis.

[torres619]

@rkelly62 thatsa dave weckl on the drums. hes a machine.

[rkelly62]

@torres619 it Tommy Brechlen.

[jimn64lucy521]

The drummer is Tommy Brechlen (sp?) normally quite good but he really butchered this one!

[pythonflying]

@jimn64lucy521 yea, what the heck was he doing in the head of "Race..."

[stickstam]

@jimn64lucy521  I have to agree, he did not do any of the unison passages or syncopation

[ParijatK]

The drummer doesn't know what to do. Killing the whole song. He shouldn't have attempted to do anything about a song that is out of his league.

[donmiad189]

mega badass \m/ big Al rules

[lespaul8287]

one of my favourites!!!!!!! i miss Stanley's big ass smile!!!!

[metalmader]

2:45 = THE TASTIEST LICK EVER!

[marty3699]

I might be out of my mind but is that wekl on drums?

[lespaul8287]

@marty3699 dam sure looks like him...

[immetalaaron]

I'm totally not being negative. But doesn't the drummer kind of take away from the groove on Race With Devil On Spanish Highway? It's all in time, but just not the same. I don't know. I guess I am just used to the album version.

[avion9785]

i had free tickets to return to forever in maryland last summer and didnt go. im stupid... oh well

[thompsons7777]

@avion9785 - YOU DID WHAT???? Are you are kidding me? You get the award of the decade for "Worst blown musical opportunity"!

[nooke65]

i would love to see him and his compilators all in one play , noke cleveland what a spectacular event that would be al , stanley lee, jan, jon, who else?

[guijam94]

more attention than 99.5%.  He plays against time and know one else understands that concept.

[tomfletchervideos]

I had this show on video somewhere, brilliant show, shame I haven't seen it in years.

[Power2theFlyingV]

THIS IS SO FUCKING METALL!!

[RafalNitkaBialek]

@Power2theFlyingVOh yes - it definitely is! : D

[Phagedaena]

I love "Race with the Devil on a Spanish Highway". I love PRS guitars, too ... I'm glad Al switched from the LP ... I can hear the difference in Tone. Great Performance - would have been very exciting to see this live. Pity his Australian tour seems to have been cancelled :(

[buckethead777]

@Phagedaena i know , just got my money refunded...pity, i had 2nd row centre seats!!!1 dammit

[mamhell]

ce mec est un fou !!!!

[burdeburdel]

Alguien sabe que ano es este video?

[jvlivs2]

This video rocks! I love the way the first song cuts off and in a split second the second one just bursts out!

[artista2000]

Sorry but that's Tommy B. the credits say so dahhh....& Ortiz is the percussionist there is the error on the credits. I know ..I have played with both personally.

[ninjajo11]

Is that Dave W on drums ?

[RelentlessEwok]

@ninjajo11

Weckl? No, it does look kind of like him though.

[drywind74]

AL has one of best picking tecnic in the world. when i listen to Al and remember Some shredders like Vinnie Moore.

[artista2000]

The percussionist in this video is NOT Roger Squitero as posted, IS Gumby Ortiz, a good friend..And on drums the under-rated Tommy Brechline.

[TobiasVailenn]

While the hand percussionist is Ortiz, the drummer is Squitero, not Brechtlein. Al did this tour in 88-89. Breicthlein stopped touring with Al in 86. Consequently, Squitero toured as drummer with Al in 88-89. Percussionist, by the way, is a broad term that includes drummers of all kinds, not just hand percussionists.

[TheMessenger74]

Al is my biggest influence, really helped me improve my picking and try to pick every note.

[TheGunslinger5854]

A lot of shred guitarists could learn much from this man. He knows when to play along, when to lead,and when to let someone else shine a little. Akage is better on the keys than a lot of people think he is. The whole percussion section is very talented. They make Al look very good. Great video.

[RafalNitkaBialek]

Actually, he's said to be the one responsible for the shred movement. Yet, he's much more than just a shredder - I absolutely agree with you. His playing is a great combination of excellent technique, vast knowledge and musical sensitivity.

[lamentate07]

agree, He may have been a proto-shredder, but he pays far more attention to composition and arrangement than 90% of guitarists that fall under that category. When i listen to his albums, i'm not just waiting for the guitar to do something because the music in general is compelling. Al offers the entire package.

[davidr926]

@lamentate07 . Well Said!

[jjobie]

@lamentate07 Agreed. That's what the modern shredders like Vai, Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Jason Becker - and yes sometimes even Satriani and Yngwie - don't always seem to understand. Too much of their music just sounds like 4/4 backing tracks that exists solely for the purpose of playing guitar solos over it. DiMeola and his ilk actually work the shred guitar work INTO the composition itself, not to mention seeing to it that the rest of the music has something to offer, not just the guitar work.

[mikef361]

@jjobie sounds like it's written by a guitar player...thank you.

[mikef361]

@jjobie you hit the nail on the head thank you

[kwolf68]

Al rules...the drummer is awesome too.

[gizmobrainyhead]

I've been playing PRS for years.. and yes, what he is playing is a PRS. NOT ALL PRS'S have bird inlays.

[jtskiier]

keyboardist fucks up at 2:03 and again at 2:19 and al's like god damn i need a new band!

[charliehustlenflow]

@jtskiier no he smiles at him at 2:03 cos they nailed it.

[MrUrech]

precision! i love Al's soloing every note just gets nailed at 9000 rpms. Jazz rock fusion forever

[PanterAmetal100]

He rocks!

[lordchanceller]

sorry steve vai al and you should have a battle of the guitars could be pretty interesting...,peace

[lildylful]

is he playing a P.R.S. there does anyone know?

[xxxtrndamncellws]

Yes, he plays a PRS.

[lildylful]

word thanx

[LinkBulletBill]

It doesn't look like a PRS because the fret marks aren't birds... Like all PRS guitars, they have a flying bird of a fret mark.

[lildylful]

ohh i see

[russeleffandy]

Bagus banget! Excellent Al Di Meola!

[jsm355]

Someone please wake me up !!

My Lord ... I'm Breathless ....Whew !!!

Spectacular !!!

[katnpaulha]

I remember when this aired live on TV... I had my VHS rolling as well! This track has long been a favorite... these guys are smokin'!

[S0nicfox106]

i know him, i was at his house the other day

[hokendog]

Whew! That kicked ass

[MitchTenderness]

i love how his insane technique is nothing more than a way for him to express musical ideas instead of the other way around

[GDarkstar74]

Interesting statement, but I get what you mean. Al has written a ton of great music.

[dinosliquors]

@MitchTenderness very good way of putting it

[bonpasteur]

Tom Brechtlein and Chuck Webb

[nucxd]

THIS IS ONE HOT SONG

[skwidlipps]

Al and Vai, best guitarists on the planet

[sacredgeometry]

two of them yes

[3triplexxx]

I like the Tour de Force Live version better with Jan Hammer

[gtfoudbs]

Yeah me too. that whole album is incredible, especially "Elegant Gypsy Suite"

[derritrane]

Thanks for posting this!

[lioraviram]

Happy Birthday Al!!! Your The Best!!!

[mullmullmull]

Excelent beatiful song

[DaChBlog]

Greatest guitarist!!!

[magotcoveredbabies]

This video never ceases to amaze me no matter how many times i watch it

[StinglyJ]

Al D Rules...what a sick sick guitarist....!

[thegreendome1]

I love Tom Brechtlein on drums but I wish he wouldve kept a little more to the way Steve Gadd played these tunes. The parts dont sound as tight

[stickstam]

It's actually Lenny White on the original recording, but I agree with you.

[hopploponeus]

Agree !!

[HenryWinehard]

WOW !

[rush2death]

Man that keyboardist looks awfuly gay!

Kick ass!

[EddysVideos]

One Of My Favorite Guitarist playing One My Favorite Songs "Race With The Devil". John Mclaughlin and Al DiMeola Shred Like No ones Business .

[Alekssings]

I think i found it ! :)

[Alekssings]

Who is that guy on the bongos with the sunglasses??! Im frantically searching on youtube for that 1980s concert by Al Di Meola and him; Al Di is sitting down playing accoustic and the bongo dude joins him after a few minutes, the stage has very dimmed blue lights... If anyone knows, could you please message me on youtube mail. Ill continue looking.

[strightstreet]

watch the end credits at end of video

Roger Squitero

[robkisskiss]

his name is roger skiterro,this show was and montreal jazz festival in 1988 i think,good luck !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Xiphos68]

Does anybody have the tabs for the spanish highway devil.

[russellblevins]

So after watching this for the first time I have realized that I know absolutely nothing about music. Wow.

[gazezbitch]

i saw al in 2007 at the jazz cafe in camden and the guy is a fucking god 22 years ive waited to see him live!

im a heavy metal kid at heart but he kicks fucking arse!

[76alembic]

I think the bassist is Reggie Hamilton

[ASHRAFFATHIEISSA]

what's mean egyptian danza? is he egyptian? or what ..merci

[vaja48le]

Egyptian danza is just the song titel...i think to imply an Egyptian dance. He is an American.

[petandmin]

I just checked online..he's an Italian American. Lots of musicians (e.g. like Pat Metheny) do latin jazz, especially Brazilian music, but I don't think you have to be of foreign descent to do that. I think it's just because they love all kinds of music.

[GuerreroGuitar]

The melodic minor scales he uses in the song have an 'Egyptian' feel to them. If you play it you will see what I'm saying.

[vaja48le]

danza is the Italian word for dance.

[sneakyfred]

Am I correct in saying he's playing some kind of P.R.S. guitar? Same style of guitar as Mikael Akerfeldt, from Opeth. =]

They're good guitars. Almost wish I had gone for one of them instead of my Gibson L.P.

[fenderbender92]

All I can say is he's endorsed by PRS with his own Signature model, so maybe.

[roadrashrobby53]

33 seconds in... i think thats the first time i've ever heard al di meola miss

[rigelrp]

Is Chuck Webb on the bass !!

[OsamaBinLadenx]

pure sickness

[12BluesBars]

Awesome!

[RandaldGreenwalt]

Move out of the way.

God is playing, here.

[OlUncleJoe]

He's amamzing.

I must say, however, that he handles the acoustic better than the electric.

[petar870602]

the acoustic is twice harder than the electric....:)))

i dont think he have any problem with anything

[OlUncleJoe]

It has nothing to do with harder.

He's great with the electric as well. But his primary instrument is the acoustic, and he's better at it than with the electric. Just like most Strat players wouldn't do as great with a Les Paul, and vice versa.

[kiaracm]

Love this, every time I watch this video I find more reason to be amazed

[XDarkSyntaXOriginal]

I agree the tour de force with Steve Gadd & Jan Hammer was the most kicking version of these tracks.

[ricaard]

that's with Chuck Rainey pumping out the bass, right?

[XDarkSyntaXOriginal]

Actually in that tour it was Anthony Jackson if I'm not mistaken. I'll have to pull out my vinyl & look it up & get back to you..

[kewl2006]

I agree... what... is that drummer doing?

[severrian]

This drummer aint doing it for me. The live version with Steve Gadd on the drums actually grooves.

[murthax]

BAM!!

[gre1990]

sometiems he runs too much...

[readingleejh]

should see the opening of this concert... simply amazing

[MarkLipka]

I would LOVE to. Where can I see/hear it?! Is it commercially available?

[readingleejh]

google video search for Al Di Meola - 1998 Montreal Jazz Festival. unbelieveable medley

[MarkLipka]

Thanks! (c:

[B360Lightning]

Di Meola had a precision in his complicated aggressive playing unlike anyone in the late 70's. A true pioneer, not only for jazz-rock but also for the future aspirations of heavy metal. But heavy metal guys can't touch DiMeola, because heavy metal isn't musical or jazzy enough. DiMeola plays beyond riffs and fast solos.

[OudeWellington]

I don't know what kind of metal you are talking about, but many "heavy metal guys" hear stuff like Opeth, Cynic, Meshuggah and still love als this music. Sometimes I think you guys can't touch some metal, because you don't understand what can exist within riffs and solos, or that metal can be musically or jazzy. Sometimes people seem to like something only 'cause it's "so special, intellectual/real emotional that it makes me also special when I listen to it/do it/think it"... or whatever

[miyabifanta]

Est!Est!Est!

[RandaldGreenwalt]

Vite! Vite! Vite!

[TheSpoonFedFukWit]

I dont understand the whole one guy is better then the other arguments. each player is unique and different. And if you cant respect Al D for what he's done then your a fool.

[funkagent]

Yeah that is the dumbest shit there is. Either someone can play and have something to offer or they dont. There are waay too many styles and voices out there for anyone to have the gall to say that any one player is the "best".

[evh5150316]

0:37 what he starts playing there. I wish he would have focused more on that part. that sounded so good!

Well everything was GREAT but I really liked that one section.

[marlenesaloco]

OH MY GOSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Whizzblitz]

Yo, guys, with all respect, don't scoff klr... kmbldn... krmrmrm... ugh, so, THAT GUY too much! We're having such a wonderful time verbally harassing each other! I just can't wait for the next attack XD

[SkateESA]

I haven't paid much attention to the comments here, but is someone seriously trying to criticize Al Di? The person who does so is completely stupid and has no musical integrity. Not only does his execution guitar rival any great guitarist you could possibly argue, but his style, originality, and subtle influence on jazz, rock, progressive, and world music is of immeasurable value. Show me one guitarist Al Di couldn't hold his own against.

[gre1990]

he may be great...but there a some better

...not going to far...mclaughlin

[Whizzblitz]

Of course, but it's also not the point to be the "best". Still, Mahavishnu bears his name with a reason...

[gamohunter]

Well, its funny but both of those guitarists are very willing to play together, that should tell the rest of us mere mortals something. They are not worried about who is "better" than the "other" they just play to the best of their abilities everytime. Which is far more vast set of skills than I have that is for sure.

[petandmin]

I forgot to add that klndjlbd would probably also listen to Al playing with greats like Stanley Clarke, Jan Hammer,Jean-Luc Ponty, and John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucía and Carlos Santana and find wrong notes there too! I suspect that the song is so difficult and fast that his ear just can't keep up.

[gamohunter]

We are all still only human. And if you are musician trying to "create" at all times even within the confines of a song that was previously performed/written/recorded. Some experiments in playing may seem like "wrong" notes.

[SkateESA]

holy butt ass. this is so incredibly good. this is what progressive jazz fusion is all about kids.

AL DI!

[QuickLicksUK]

im really getting into this style of music and this particular player if people could view and comment on me playing guitar that would be awesome.

[matttalger420]

dam i cant get enough of al i think they ussaly sound better live

[kso717]

tommy brechtlein

[eroticnightmare71]

Can somebody tell me what the hell 's the name of the drummer?

[Savefrank56]

Major MARS VOLTA influence...

I really like him

[kragstips]

true dat. except i like di meola. but you know everyone can have an opinion

[klndjlbd]

yes it was an insult towards both.

And by comparing Al Di Meola to Dragonforce I wasn´t implying that Al plays as shitty but that they´re equally ridicilous. Cocky masturbation without content.

And to Herman Li´s and Sam Totman´s defense: at least they appear to be so naive that I can´t believe that they´d be cocky on purpose unlike that sucking-allan-holdsworth´s-app­endix yuppie scum Di Meola.

And this was just my response to someone calling FOB shit without hearing them. Thank you. :P

[nickdudem]

super fail, di meola should masturbate all over your face you ballchef

[klndjlbd]

while dear Al was masturbating on my face, I came aware of him playing wrong notes on several occasions. YOU CALL THAT VIRTUOSITY?!?!

So you guys are really really really angry at me? Over the Internet? Scared shitless right now..

ps. I swallowed. Not the best I´ve had. Not even close.