One Thing I Learned from Al Di Meola

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  • Опубликовано: 3 май 2024
  • Through a truly extraordinary set of circumstances I once found myself hanging out with legendary jazz fusion flamenco guitarist Al Di Meola in studio 3 at Abbey Road - hanging out with an 1830s Martin Stauffer guitar. I know right? Massively unlikely but it did happen.
    It was a real “record scratch - I bet you're wondering how I ended up here” moment. A day that I look back on as a massive source of inspiration and generosity and kind of a cool story so I have decided to share it with this video.
    Many thanks to Al Di Meola, Chris Bolster and Hernan Romero.
    Until next time, stay tuned
    Michael

Комментарии • 48

  • @andrewvenezie995
    @andrewvenezie995 2 месяца назад +3

    Recently enjoyed Al and his buddies here in Pittsburgh. I first met Al in NYC when working at WRVR 1977-1981. Super nice and caring. Al understands what it is to be a fan! Hersch Thank you for an amazing story.

  • @philipwilkes2780
    @philipwilkes2780 2 месяца назад +3

    As always, a very interesting watch. Thank you.

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +1

      Glad you enjoyed it thank you!

  • @stickman55100
    @stickman55100 2 месяца назад +2

    What a fabulous and cool story. An incredible experience for you that you’ve now shared and inspired an entire community. I’m totally grateful for this. Thank you.

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад

      Thank you so much! That means a lot to me

  • @dalgguitars
    @dalgguitars 2 месяца назад +2

    I totally want to see and hear that ancient Martin!!!! Your friend was very generous to let you take it out into the world.

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +1

      Ah I wish I’d managed to capture some footage…

  • @jamesturtle
    @jamesturtle 2 месяца назад +2

    Wonderful story! I'm glad Al is healthy and feeling good enough to tour again. Congrats on 10k Michael!

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +1

      Thank you very much James!

  • @hkguitar1984
    @hkguitar1984 2 месяца назад +3

    Thank You so very much for sharing this amazing story.
    Awesome

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +1

      Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching!

  • @douglasnelson3569
    @douglasnelson3569 2 месяца назад +2

    A humble, but incredibly talented man, sharing a yarn about an incredibly talented but humble man...
    It's content like this that keeps me coming back - thank you Micheal!
    A great weekend to all folks! :)

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад

      I appreciate that, thank you very much

  • @Geotubest
    @Geotubest 2 месяца назад +2

    I LOVE Al. I've been following him on FB for years. He and I have exchanged a few messages. His health scare some months ago scared the daylights out of me. We need him. Great video Michael as always!

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +2

      Absolutely! I am so glad Al is back fighting fit. Just an incredible dude.

  • @IvayloNikolov
    @IvayloNikolov 2 месяца назад +3

    I would probably have felt the same way if I had been present in the studio during the "Vetiver" recording. And this brings me to the most important question of 2024 - when are we going to enjoy your new album (and all tablatures) 🙂😂😅

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +1

      Ha ha I’m doing my best!

  • @crystalgaynor4729
    @crystalgaynor4729 2 месяца назад +3

    “It is HARD WORK, FOCUS & RESILIENCE, that makes us better musicians”! It’s reassuring to know that whatever level we’re at on our guitar journey, that this 3 Step Rule still applies. Great story, thank you for sharing! Al Di Meola, one of Jersey’s finest!!! 🎶🌸

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +2

      Absolutely! Thanks for watching Crystal!

  • @ellenrik
    @ellenrik 2 месяца назад +1

    What a great story and what a fabulous guitar to take with you, a real museum piece. Thank you for sharing. All the best.

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад

      Glad you enjoyed it, thank you so much for watching!

  • @roscoe2311
    @roscoe2311 2 месяца назад +1

    Congrats on 10k Michael! And thank you for all your videos!

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад

      Glad you like them! Thank you for your support!

  • @jez6345789
    @jez6345789 2 месяца назад +1

    An Interesting story thanks I had not heard his version and yes it's impressive and he managed to mould it nicely into his style lots of Al's fave note choices slipped into the flourishes etc,

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +1

      Glad you enjoyed it Jez! I think that whole record is very beautiful

  • @PhilTaylorGuitar
    @PhilTaylorGuitar 2 месяца назад +1

    Good work Michael. Enjoyed it 👍

  • @neilyoung5029
    @neilyoung5029 2 месяца назад +1

    Great to see you today mate….I’ll give you a call when your boots are back

  • @DavidRees43
    @DavidRees43 2 месяца назад +1

    magnificent 😎

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +1

      Thank you for watching David!

  • @victorbeebe8372
    @victorbeebe8372 2 месяца назад +1

    Mahalo!

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +2

      Mahalo nui loa to you too!

  • @JimB802
    @JimB802 2 месяца назад +1

    What a great story to tell your kids! Al Di Meola is one of my guitar heroes from way back. Thank you for sharing. What is the name of the alblum that he was cutting?

    • @JimB802
      @JimB802 2 месяца назад +1

      Never mind I found the album. Thank you Ms. Goggle, "All Your Life (A Tribute To The Beatles Recorded At Abbey Road Studios, London.

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +2

      All your life is the acoustic album - the later electric record is called Across the Universe - both excellent albums

  • @BluesSky
    @BluesSky 2 месяца назад +1

    Al is prickly, saw it myself at an RTF show when he lost it on a stage hand in the middle of the show.
    I understand the frustration of the perfectionist though and it was only a mild distraction from an incredible night of music.

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +2

      Well, everyone reacts things like that differently. I was treated and the utmost respect and generosity

  • @simonhunt8896
    @simonhunt8896 2 месяца назад +1

    Really enjoyed you recounting the meeting. Al di Miola is a giant in my opinion. Excuse my ignorance, but what piece was Hernan Romero playing? It was beautiful.

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +1

      Thank you for watching Simon! I’ll ask Hernan what he was playing

  • @BrianTruesby
    @BrianTruesby 2 месяца назад +1

    This was so elegantly expressed! Thank you MDW!!

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +1

      Thank you so much my friend!

  • @calebbhawkins
    @calebbhawkins 2 месяца назад +1

    Nylon string guitar is what I call a humbling instrument. While they might fret a little lighter than steel they are far harder to get to sound good and each note is more sensitive to touch I feel like. Combine playing hard material and you’re going to work way harder than some guy ripping on a D28

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +1

      That is true - I’m grateful to have started playing on nylon string

    • @calebbhawkins
      @calebbhawkins 2 месяца назад

      @@MichaelWatts I started there too. I still like having a nylon string guitar on hand to help me stay humble. But it’s far easier to play steel for what I do.

  • @leoosiku
    @leoosiku 2 месяца назад

    Hopefully he told you to listen to Coryell.

  • @japanesemaplepruning
    @japanesemaplepruning 2 месяца назад +1

    Al is great, one of my favorites but he’s not a flamenco guitarist.

    • @MichaelWatts
      @MichaelWatts  2 месяца назад +1

      Well yeah but he has played flamenco inspired music alongside Paco so I think that’s close enough.