Al Di Meola: Morocco Fantasia

Fusion guitarist Al Di Meola and World Sinfonia are captured live at the Mawazine Musique du Monde Festival in Morocco in this 2009 performance. Di Meola plays alongside Fausto Beccalossi (accordion), Peo Alfonsi (guitar), Gumbi Ortiz (percussion), Peter Kaszas (drums), and Victor Miranda (bass)—adding, on the last two numbers, local players Said Chraibi (oud), Abdellah Meri (violin), and Tari Ben Ali (percussion). Dressed-in-white Di Meola plays seven originals and a cover of Astor Piazzolla's "Double Concerto," beginning with "Misterio," which combines tango-style strumming with whistling and accordion flourishes, highlighting Di Meola's speed and dexterity on the acoustic guitar as he conjures up lyrical curlicues and filigrees. Fans of Di Meola's six-string expertise will surely welcome this, although the Latin-tinged tracks here are fairly interchangeable, with the exception of "Egyptian Danza," in which Di Meola switches to electric guitar for a harder-edged sound. Filmmakers Francesco Cabras and Alberto Molinari intercut scenes of everyday Moroccan life—fisherman at work, children at play, and women walking around town—as well as static shots that appear to dance in time with the music. Extras include deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes footage (including a solo performance and jams with street musicians). Presented in DTS 5.1 (DTS-HD 5.1 on the Blu-ray release) and stereo, this is recommended. (K. Fennessy)