DiMeola, Al - Speak A Volcano: Return To Electric Guitar

This is the first video of Al's that I've purchased, but I've seen countless hours of footage via other means, so I had a level of expectations when I decided to buy this. Not disappointed.As others have noted, "Return to Electric Guitar" in the DVD title is misleading. It's fairly well divided between electric and acoustic, and personally, I didn't buy this just because I thought it was all electric. If anything, an adviser (or Al himself) should have realized that the title was not accurate and was misleading.The sound quality is very, very good. The video images are excellent, as far as quality goes. However, as someone mentioned, the camera man/crew should be shot. Al's close-ups and panning out are fine, but the rest of his band? Geez.... not just a few zoom-ins of the back of the keyboard player, but dozens! Very amateurish, imo, as far as camera work goes. I realize that Al IS the show, but some dignified focus on his pals (especially Ortiz) is in order, as well as would have made for some nice distractions at many "slower" points. I mean, you're not filming the B52's here, so quieter segments could have been capitalized on much better, imo. I'm not even a camera guy/directer/producer, but I'd bet big $$$ that guys who are were wincing throughout the vid itself, and the way other portions (bonus features) are done too. It may be Al's decisions on this stuff, or he might just be surrounded with family/friends who are working outside their area of expertise. I see this same thing being prevalent in his lack of proper promotion, CD labeling, production, his website, etc..Bottom Line - Al is an extraordinary guitar player and composer, and this DVD displays his skills and mastery. True fans won't be disappointed, other than wishing he'd just have kept playing :-). I'm only critical of the other areas I mentioned simply because I believe Al deserves and warrants nothing but the best in the production of everything he does!

Any Al DiMeola show is a treat. I've seen his shows a half dozen times at various points in his career and I've never left disappointed except that the shows eventually ended. I also own all his other DVDs and was excited to learn that he was going electric on this one. Well, not quite. Speak a Volcano is more like an acoustic sandwich with some great electric fireworks at both ends but with a tasty slice of acoustic wizardry in the middle. I know that annoys some fans who were hoping for the glories of Elegant Gypsy, Casino, and Electric Rendezvous all rolled into one, but the fact is that DiMeola long ago left those days in the past.The DVD leans heavily on his work of the last two decades with only a slight nod to the glory days of the seventies. Over the course of his career, DiMeola has perfected an otherworldly and almost mystical sound. Whenever you hear him play, you can just kick back and let your mind soar with the music. He has also long indulged his obsession with the music of the late nouveau tango master Astor Piazzolla to whom he pays much homage once again on this DVD.I've watched Speak A Volcano several times since I received it and find something more to like each time. The light show is great and the shots of DiMeola's seemingly effortless guitar pyrotechnics are thrilling. He is backed by a competent and well-rehearsed band. Long-time fixture, percussionist Gumbi Ortiz, seems almost an extension of DiMeola's talent. The interplay between the two is a joy to behold.I don't really have any favorites, maybe Milonga del Angel (Milonga misspelled as two words on the DVD housing), Tangata, and the fiery Senor Mouse from way back in his Casino days are the most memorable. I like the interior acoustic set but I am with some of the other reviewers who think that a DVD billed as a return to electric guitar should be all-electric. Perhaps DiMeola could have offered some electric interpretations of songs he had previously performed acoustically but he didn't so I'm just happy to hear what is here. So lets all enjoy this one and hope that sales are strong enough to spur DiMeola to record an even more electric show for his next DVD!

Touring in support of "Consequence of Chaos", this performance has Al bringing his electric fusion roots back to the fore for half the show, while his acoustic "world" music and Astor Piazzola stylings of the past few years are nicely balanced in between.Gumbi Ortiz, Mario Parmisano, Mike Pope & Joel Taylor support him in this stellar show. Al's electric performances on his Paul Reed Smith solid body are as fine as any of Al's 70's & 80's material; "San Marco" "Tao" and the medley of "Hypnose / Red Moon" highlight the newer material."One Night Last June", "Senor Mouse" & Piazzola's "Fugata" round out the electric performances, all of which are stunning. Al still burns...A solo set of Piazzola classics highlights the acoustic set, which showcases Al's sensitive side, as well as his love of rhythmic phrases.The performance itself is flawless, but the DVD itself is not sequenced properly, and you'll have to watch all the way through to find where all the tracks begin and end.For example, the "Hypnose / Red Moon medley are not where their chapter index says they are.Other than that, Al's back...and it's electric.

If you want to see an interview with Al, then this DVD is decent, but if you have the idea that that this is a concert of Al on Electric Guitar, you'll be sorely disappointed. He plays Electric Guitar on about two-fifths of it, and the rest is his usual acoustic nylon/steel string stuff. I found it to be a serious letdown, because I was honestly expecting the title claims. ELECTRIC GUITAR!! So I've awarded it a generous 3 stars, even though I really should've offered two. I've played guitar daily since 1959, so this is not just an opinion of a "fan".

a trully great dvd., but what else would you expect from Al di Meola, however, perhaps lacks the absolute brilliance and momentum of his playing on 'Elegant Gypsy', who knows, perhaps he doesn't quite get the action of his '58 les paul custom, and 'Boogie', using a P.R.S., never the less absolutely deserves a place in your collection!

Guère passionnant ce dvd d'Al di Méola dont le titre return to électric guitar est trompeur car une grande partie de la prestation est accoustique cependant cela joue .Facultatif.qualité son et image: très bonneduration: 1h40

アルディメオラのエレキギターを演奏している映像は、この作品しかないようで、ファンにとっては、貴重な作品と言えると思います。一般のCD販売店では、廃盤の為、入手できません。その点からも貴重な作品と言えるでしょう。内容は、2006年ドイツでのライブ。演奏曲の良さ、彼の驚異的なテクニックを間近で見れること、それから、特筆する点は、なんと言っても、画質がとても良いこと。アルディメオラのファンでなくても、ギター好きな人には、一見の価値が有る作品と言えるでしょう。