Guitar guru plays at Mersin festival
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by Betül Çal
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 25, 2009 00:00
ANTALYA- The 8th International Mersin Music Festival hosted a music legend, Al Di Meola, Saturday. Meola was accompanied by Gunib Ortiz on percussion and Fausto Beccalosi on the piano accordion during the concert.
Right on the heels of the breathtaking concert by world famous pianist Fazıl Say at Kızkalesi, the southern city of Mersin has hosted another legend of music, Al Di Meola.
Regarded for the past two and a half decades as one of the most prominent virtuosos in contemporary instrumental jazz, Meola offered unforgettable pleasure to music lovers during his two hours performance.
Completing his "World Symphonia" concert series at the Mersin Music Festival, Meola was accompanied by Gunib Ortiz on percussion and Fausto Beccalosi on piano accordion for the concert. Giving one of his best instrumental performances to almost 1,000 concert goers present in the hall, Meola was acknowledged with a standing ovation at the end.
"Meola is definitely one of the most prominent guitarists in the world. I have been playing piano for almost 18 years and he is definitely my source of inspiration," İnanç Perker, a 45-year-old doctor who came to listen to Meola that night said.
"One cannot understand how the two hours during his concerts pass so quickly. You cannot but surrender yourself to the rhythm of his music without hearing any other voice, seeing anybody around and thinking of any other man in the world," said Melike Şendal, who came from Eskişehir to see the performance. "I think he casts a spell on all of us; there is no other explanation for the Meola addiction," she added, laughing. However, not all of the audience was as happy with Meola’s performance.
One of the best in the world
"I accept that Meola is one of the best guitarists in the world, and I am definitely happy that he chose Mersin as his last stop for his series of concerts. But he obviously set his whole performance on a few rhythms, which distorted the accordance of his instrumental music", said Murat Başaran, a 48-year-old musician. "I can even say it was a boring concert, or I should say that I had difficulty in enjoying it this time."
Agreeing with Başaran, Meral Yapar, primary school teacher, said that the rhythms could have been more diversified. "I was sorry to see that such a wonderful guitar guru as Meola limited himself as well as the listeners to a few rhythms."
Saying that the Mersin people were very lucky to live in such a great city, which offers a variety of cultures as well as natural wonders, Meola highlighted that he is very happy to share this experience with the Mediterranean listeners, who he believes successfully interact with the music he makes.
Meola also gave a hint about his future projects, saying that he had close links with some Turkish musicians, two of whom were Hüsnü Şenlendirici and Arto Tunçboyacıyan, and would be happy to take part in a project with them.
Offered "cezerye," a traditional dessert of Mersin, by Faik Burakgazi, chairman of Festival Committee, at the end of the concert, Meola said that he tried cezerye for the first time, and found it as wonderful as the Turkish music.
Who is Al Di Meola?
Al Di Meola has been known as one of the most important virtuosos in the contemporary instrumental jazz field. Al Di Meola's highly celebrated career has spanned a wide range of genres into a unique style embodying the artists world inspired influences.
Born to an Italian family, young Al Di Meola while growing up in New Jersey divided his time between guitar lessons and hanging out at the local salsa clubs. Influenced greatly by jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, Di Meola enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where his marathon practice sessions are still the stuff of legend (Al continues to be the technical master by which other guitarists are measured). "We had three guys in one space; one in one room, one in the bathroom and I got the closet".
After a brief stint with keyboardist Barry Miles, Di Meola, at 19 was tapped by Chick Corea in 1974 for "Return to Forever." His star quickly ascended. 21 recordings, countless awards, (including three gold albums) and six million albums later, Al Di Meola is still challenging himself and his music. "Infinite Desire" his 1998 release, "Winter Nights" the end of 1999 release," World Sinfonia 2000, The Grand Passion" the 2000 release and "Flesh on Flesh" his May of 2003 release, featuring some of his best compositions and playing to date.
Regarded for the past two and a half decades as one of the most prominent virtuosos in contemporary instrumental jazz, Meola offered unforgettable pleasure to music lovers during his two hours performance.
Completing his "World Symphonia" concert series at the Mersin Music Festival, Meola was accompanied by Gunib Ortiz on percussion and Fausto Beccalosi on piano accordion for the concert. Giving one of his best instrumental performances to almost 1,000 concert goers present in the hall, Meola was acknowledged with a standing ovation at the end.
"Meola is definitely one of the most prominent guitarists in the world. I have been playing piano for almost 18 years and he is definitely my source of inspiration," İnanç Perker, a 45-year-old doctor who came to listen to Meola that night said.
"One cannot understand how the two hours during his concerts pass so quickly. You cannot but surrender yourself to the rhythm of his music without hearing any other voice, seeing anybody around and thinking of any other man in the world," said Melike Şendal, who came from Eskişehir to see the performance. "I think he casts a spell on all of us; there is no other explanation for the Meola addiction," she added, laughing. However, not all of the audience was as happy with Meola’s performance.
One of the best in the world
"I accept that Meola is one of the best guitarists in the world, and I am definitely happy that he chose Mersin as his last stop for his series of concerts. But he obviously set his whole performance on a few rhythms, which distorted the accordance of his instrumental music", said Murat Başaran, a 48-year-old musician. "I can even say it was a boring concert, or I should say that I had difficulty in enjoying it this time."
Agreeing with Başaran, Meral Yapar, primary school teacher, said that the rhythms could have been more diversified. "I was sorry to see that such a wonderful guitar guru as Meola limited himself as well as the listeners to a few rhythms."
Saying that the Mersin people were very lucky to live in such a great city, which offers a variety of cultures as well as natural wonders, Meola highlighted that he is very happy to share this experience with the Mediterranean listeners, who he believes successfully interact with the music he makes.
Meola also gave a hint about his future projects, saying that he had close links with some Turkish musicians, two of whom were Hüsnü Şenlendirici and Arto Tunçboyacıyan, and would be happy to take part in a project with them.
Offered "cezerye," a traditional dessert of Mersin, by Faik Burakgazi, chairman of Festival Committee, at the end of the concert, Meola said that he tried cezerye for the first time, and found it as wonderful as the Turkish music.
Who is Al Di Meola?
Al Di Meola has been known as one of the most important virtuosos in the contemporary instrumental jazz field. Al Di Meola's highly celebrated career has spanned a wide range of genres into a unique style embodying the artists world inspired influences.
Born to an Italian family, young Al Di Meola while growing up in New Jersey divided his time between guitar lessons and hanging out at the local salsa clubs. Influenced greatly by jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, Di Meola enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where his marathon practice sessions are still the stuff of legend (Al continues to be the technical master by which other guitarists are measured). "We had three guys in one space; one in one room, one in the bathroom and I got the closet".
After a brief stint with keyboardist Barry Miles, Di Meola, at 19 was tapped by Chick Corea in 1974 for "Return to Forever." His star quickly ascended. 21 recordings, countless awards, (including three gold albums) and six million albums later, Al Di Meola is still challenging himself and his music. "Infinite Desire" his 1998 release, "Winter Nights" the end of 1999 release," World Sinfonia 2000, The Grand Passion" the 2000 release and "Flesh on Flesh" his May of 2003 release, featuring some of his best compositions and playing to date.