Jazz-fusion guitar lovers have a lot to be happy about these days with the influx of Al DiMeola DVD's being released to the market. Live at Montreux 1986/1993 contains two shows which roughly total about 70 minutes of footage. The 1986 set is Al solo with just his guitar, as he runs through a few songs from his then newly released Cielo E Terra album, plus a classic cut "Passion, Grace and Fire". I've seen more polished performances from DiMeola, although his playing is impeccable here, but what is lacking is effective camera work. Many times the camera's are either on DiMeola's face, back, anywhere but on the mans hands, which is what most people who will buy this DVD will want to be watching. In addition, close to 5 minutes of the opening segment is wasted with Al's complaining about some noise that he is hearing off the stage. Perhaps this could have been edited out somehow?
The second show, from 1993, sees Al with his World Sinfonia trio featuring guitarist Chris Carrington and percussionist /vocalist Arto Tuncboyaciyan. This is a more Brazillian jazz flavored set, with Arto's nimble percussion work and effective use of vocals setting in nicely with Carrington and DiMeola's fret work. Al uses many guitar synth passages on the three tunes in the set, and the band rips it up on the cover of Return to Forever's "No Mystery".
In short, One of These Nights is a better DVD overall than this one, so if you are stuck with making a choice go with that one, but I'm sure the DeiMeola fanatic needs to have both in their collection.
Track Listing
1986
1) Introduction by Claude Nobs
2) Vertigo Shadow
3) Medley:
Orient Blue Suite
Passion, Grace and Fire
Atavism of Twilight
Enigma of Desire
Cielo E Terra
4) Etude
5) Capoiera
1993
1) Introduction by Claude Nobs
2) Indigo
3) No Mystery
4) Tango Suite
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