Al Di Meola - Diabolic Inventions and Seduction for Solo Guitar (Volume 1, Music of Astor Piazzolla) (2006/2025) [Hi-Res]

Diabolic Inventions and Seduction for Solo Guitar, Vol. 1: Music of Astor Piazzolla is an album by Italian-American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist Al Di Meola.

Al Di Meola's personal desire for this music in this solo guitar context was to bring his own vision by incorporating a syncopated rhythm concept unlike its original written conception.

His friendship with Astor Piazzolla proved to be a turning point in his life. Astor encouraged him to bring to Astor's music his own voice and expression.

Through their many conversations, Astor described his music as "diabolic", referring to the radical departure from the standard Tango music of the past. For that, Astor faced adverse reaction due to its mix of contemporary musical elements, while breaking all the rules and radically advancing this music into the future.

Like most musical innovators, Astor faced periods of intense criticism. After a lengthy period of exile, the tango purists finally accepted and heralded Astor's depth of work and he returned to Argentnia as hero.

"There’s something about the beginning of an Al Di Meola album that always takes my breath away. The brainbox knows he’s a brilliant guitarist who’s full of surprises and yet somehow, unexpectedly, miraculously, I’m surprised by his genius and agility anew. That’s how I feel every time I hear the opening “Campero” from his latest, Diabolic Inventions and Seduction for Solo Guitar. Di Meola is here taking eight Astor Piazzolla tracks and interpreting them in his own idiom. Apparently. What I know about Astor Piazzolla would fit on the head of a very modest pin. Piazolla is a modern tango composer from Argentina, which I can find on the map, and that’s about it. So if you want a deeper discussion, look for one of those wanky writers who talk about “tone” like it’s a secret code word for something other than “sound.” Tango, seduction and diabolic detours have long been a part of Di Meola’s landscape, so fans shouldn’t be surprised to find themselves at the foot of Mount Piazzolla, gazing in awe. Yet Diabolic Inventions is a different artistic statement than earlier albums, a self-portrait of the artist as both passionate student and patient teacher. Clothed in contrarian rhythms, drunk with energy, Piazzolla’s work reels from seductive to unstable. Fascinating stuff, though my jaded ears begin to fence each subsequent song in as just another tango, the initial wonder at the delicious subversion of it all yielding to mild seduction. That’s not to suggest this is a romantic album; anyone attempting to make love to it is likely to sprain something. It’s more about being seduced by the musical possibilities of the tango, which has long been at the heart of Di Meola’s muse."

"Too some, Al di Meola is best known for is shredding guitar work as part of Return to Forever, and also his early solo albums. But di Meola has always had an interest in flamenco styled acoustic playing ("Mediterranean Sundance" off of Elegant Gypsy, anyone?) -- which is the six-string style that he fully embraces on his 2007 release, Diabolic Inventions and Seduction for Solo Guitar, Vol. 1: Music of Astor Piazzolla. Like its title says, the album is comprised solely of renditions of tunes by Argentine tango composer Astor Piazzolla, who is best known for trailblazing the nuevo tango style (which contained traces of both jazz and classical). And di Meola has no problem offering up a fine tribute, especially on such tracks as "Campero" and "Romantico." With Diabolic Inventions and Seduction for Solo Guitar, one of the world's most technically gifted guitarists proves once and for all that he is also one of the most versatile, as well." (Greg Prato, AMG)

Al Di Meola, guitar, hand clapping, djembe skins
Hernan Romero, cahon, handclapping, djembe skins

Recorded in January 2006 at the Di Meola 201 Studios
Engineered by Rich Tozzoli, Lester Lovell and Katsuhiko Naito
Mixed and mastered by Katsuhiko Naito
Produced by Al Di Meola and Bernhard Rössle