Show Notes
Guitar legend Al Di Meola joins Playback Sessions to deconstruct the surreal launch of his career: from the LSD-fueled demo tape, to a sold-out Carnegie Hall debut at just 19 years old. He breaks down his strict compositional rules, explains why modern technology is destroying guitar progress, and reveals the untold history behind the legendary Guitar Trio with Paco de Lucía and John McLaughlin.
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00:00 – Opening 0:01:01 – Al Was a Berkeley Student Who Loved Return to Forever 0:03:52 – Slipped Acid on New Year's Eve: The origin of the legendary demo 0:04:52 – Michael Finds Chick Corea's Management With One Phone Number 0:05:20 – Chick Calls Al at Berkeley: No Tryout. Just Come. 0:06:55 – Practice Practice Practice? No — Acid Acid Acid 0:07:11 – I Was 19 and Definitely Not Ready 0:09:31 – Imposter Syndrome Playing With Jazz Legends 0:11:12 – Recording Next Door to John Lennon 0:16:03 – Finding Paco de Lucía in a Madrid Record Shop 0:20:33 – Forming the Guitar Trio With McLaughlin and Paco 0:24:48 – Hybrid Picking: How Al Developed His Right Hand 0:48:11 – "You Can Never Start With A Melody" 1:04:19 – The Problem With Modern Shredders 1:17:15 – Bruce Springsteen Surprised Everyone in Minneapolis 1:20:30 – Searching For The Unreleased Acid Tape
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📍 Filmed at Al Di Meola's home studio 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley Guest: Al Di Meola Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Moti Margolin
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