Posted by I believe the first album I ever heard from Al DiMeola was “Friday Night In San Francisco”. Yet another album, musician that my Uncle Scott introduced me to! I had started to get serious with my guitar playing in the mid 80’s so I began absorbing all the great guitarists up to then. I began listening to Gary Moore and Stevie Ray Vaughan and began getting more into Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton.
When the neighbor across the hallway from my mom’s apartment moved out, I struck gold! He had left behind 2 large, double sided cassette cases filled with Jazz & Prog Rock musicians including Chick Corea, Wes Montgomery, Return To Forever, John McLaughlin, Mahvishnu Orchestra and even Jean Luc Ponty, just to name a few!
But there was something about Return To Forever that really caught my ear. Perhaps it was because I was already familiar with Al DiMeola, at least his name; “Friday Night in San Francisco” came out a few years later. Or perhaps it was the chemistry he had with Chick Corea?
The stars have finally aligned!! (Have I used that cliche before?)
Although “Al D” has been a personal guitar God to me for nearly 45 yrs(!!!), I finally got the chance to see him in action! He stepped out onto the stage in what can only be his “signature” attire consisting of blue-jeans, t-shirt and vest. He addressed the near capacity crowd and apologized for the rescheduled date as he contracted food poisoning prior to showtime a couple weeks back! Guitar in hand, he opened his first set with “One Night Last June”, and by the crowd reaction, all was forgiven! I did find it mildly amusing and yet a bit annoying, that when Mr D addressed the audience, it seemed that it was a pass for others to express their opinions or ideas, loudly at times, but when Al played, the audience listened! After playing for nearly an hour, he took a short break before commencing a blistering set 2 with one of my favorites, “Egyptian Danza”! My god has blessed me!
Here are a few highlights of Al Di Meola’s performance from Patchogue Theatre. You can also visit https://www.aldimeola.com/ for future dates, photos and merch. Other highlights can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/RobAmstrongPix
SETLIST
One Night Last June
Flight Over Rio
Beyond The Seventh Galaxy
Ava’s Dance in the Moonlight
Dark Eye Tango
Casino
SET 2
Egyptian Danza
Senor Mouse
Elegant Gypsy Suite
Midnight Tango
Song to the Pharoah Kings
Long Island Sounds 
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