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John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucía: Friday Night in San Francisco

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s

Artist: John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola,
Paco de Lucía
Title: Friday Night in San Francisco
Released: 1981
Label: Columbia Records
Time: 41:09
Producer(s): John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Paco de DeLucia
Appears with: Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucia
Category: Jazz
Rating: *********. (9/10)
Media type: CD
Purchase date:  1997.06.28
Price in €: 14,99
Web address:

 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Mediterranean Subndance/Rio Ancho (Paco DeLucia / Al Di Meola) - 11:31
[2] Short Tales of the Black Forest (Chick Corea) - 8:43
[3] Frevo Rasgado (Egberto Gismonti) - 7:55
[4] Fantasia Suite (Al Di Meola) - 8:50
[5] Guardian Angel [studio recording] (John McLaughlin) - 4:06

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


John McLaughlin - Steel & Nylon-string Acoustic Guitars
Paco De Lucia - Steel & Nylon-string Acoustic Guitars
Al Di Meola - Steel & Nylon-string Acoustic Guitars

Bob Belden - Reissue producer
Bill Milkowski - Liner notes
Mark Wilder - Digital Mastering
Seth Rothstein - Project Coordinator
Howard Fritzson - Art Direction
Tom Copi - Photography
Randall Martin - Reissue Design
Rene Arsenault - Production Assistant

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


All tracks have been digitally remastered



Very few albums really deserve the status of being called "classic"; this, however, is one of them. Recorded live one night, just as it happened, Friday Night in San Francisco is a meeting of acoustic guitar giants. The chemistry between these three guitar players is electrifying. Starting with the flamenco virtuosity of "Mediterranean Sundance/Rio Ancho," we are treated to the emotional intensity of Al Di Meola, the rhythmic complexity of Paco de Lucia and the sheer technical brilliance and speed of John McLaughlin. "Short Tales of the Black Forest" has McLaughlin and Di Meola navigating a tight call-and-response pattern on this Chick Corea-penned tune. Not only is it a staggering speedfest, they slam strings, smack the sides of their guitars, and scratch their picks up the length of their strings. Midway through, they quote from Henry Mancini's "Pink Panther" theme, before breaking into the most complex 12-bar blues ever recorded. Next up, DeLucia and McLaughlin demonstrate picked and freehand style traditional flamenco guitar licks with dizzying speed and empathy. All three masters take the stage for the nearly nine-minute "Fantasia Suite," in which they play musical toss the ball. The album ends strangely (as it originally did) with a studio track that the three guitarists recorded after the fact in a studio in White Plains, New York. In spite of its non-live context, "Guardian Angel" contains a hell of lot of fire and brimstone, with an added crispness to the sound thanks to the controlled studio setting. The final proof is in the listening. An essential recording, if ever there were one.

Lahri Bond (Amherst, MA), Dirty Linen



"Ein Muß für die Plattensammlung jedes Akustikgitarren-Fans. ..Perlend,metallisch,so,wie hart angerissene Stahlseiten eben klingen,bringt die CD Gitarrenklänge zu Gehör."

P.Heinisch in stereoplay 10/83



Mediterranean heritages proud by opening with a medley of romantic tunes. Their fiery acoustic guitar interplay sets the tone for an album that is full of technique and passion from three acclaimed players who mesh wonderfully. McLaughlin and Di Meola have some fun with hick Corea's "Short Tales of the Black Forest", as a "Pink Panther" theme quote segues into a slow blues. Regrettably, several quiet moments are marred by noisy audience members.

Mark Allan, All-Music Guide
 

 L y r i c s


Instrumental Album!

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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