Verified Global Musician

Al Di Meola

Al Di Meola is a guitarist, composer, and bandleader whose work spans Return to Forever, acoustic guitar trios, World Sinfonia, and solo albums.

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Photo source · Photo: Gorupdebesanez, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Career Overview

About Al Di Meola

Di Meola’s official site frames his career through Return to Forever, the Guitar Trio with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía, and later solo and collaborative writing. The artist’s own account distinguishes these recurring ensemble chapters from a wide set of guest collaborations.[1]

His artist-run music catalog moves from electric leader records such as Elegant Gypsy and Electric Rendezvous to acoustic trio work, World Sinfonia, Beatles-centered projects, and later albums including Opus and Twentyfour. That range keeps composition and both electric and acoustic guitar at the center of the guide.[2]

Ensembles and Career Threads

Bands & Projects

Guitarist

Return to Forever

Di Meola’s official project account identifies his formative electric-ensemble work with Return to Forever as one of the principal threads in his career history.[1]

Co-leader and acoustic guitarist

Guitar Trio

The artist site documents the three-guitar partnership with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía, a distinct acoustic setting within Di Meola’s catalog.[1][2]

Leader, guitarist, and composer

World Sinfonia

World Sinfonia extends Di Meola’s acoustic writing through a recurring ensemble identity represented in his official recording catalog.[2]

Selected, Not Exhaustive

Recordings to Know

1977 · Columbia Records

Elegant Gypsy

Leader, guitarist, and composer

The artist’s official catalog retains Elegant Gypsy among the core early electric leader albums that established his post-Return to Forever recording path.[2]

Release details

1983 · Columbia Records

Passion, Grace & Fire

Co-leader with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía

This studio guitar-trio album documents the acoustic partnership that Di Meola’s official project account treats as a separate career thread.[1][2]

Release details

1991

World Sinfonia

Leader, guitarist, and composer

The official catalog presents World Sinfonia as both a recording and the name of Di Meola’s acoustic, composition-centered ensemble project.[2]

Release details

Live Calendar

Upcoming Jazz DateBook Shows

Sat, Sep 19, 8:00 PM

Al Di Meola in Concert at Alex Theatre

Alex Theatre · Glendale

Show details

Sat, Sep 26, 8:00 PM

Al Di Meola at Siesta Valley Bowl

Siesta Valley Bowl · Orinda

Show details

Sources

Career copy is original synthesis from the artist, label, and project sources below. Current dates come from Jazz DateBook event inventory.

  1. [1] Official ensemble and career project account

    Al Di Meola

  2. [2] Official artist recording catalog

    Al Di Meola