AL DI MEOLA PROJECT: SOARING THROUGH A DREAM

By the time this album was released, the music was no longer similar with Meola's debut "Land of Midnight Sun" on many aspects. Guitar-wise, he had no longer use fast speed electric guitar but mostly used acoustic guitar and the sound is much softer than his original style. Keyboards / synthesizers seem to play important role as instrument that bring the melody of the music as well as background. This can be heard at the opening track "Capoeira" (9:21). It's a well-composed song with good flow from start to end. Airto Moreira gives his vocals thru the track. It's hard to accept the fact that Meola's music has evolved into this kind - way different from the days when he was with Return To Forever or his early solo years. But that's music - it matures with the musician who crafts it. So be it - just accept whatever progress the musicians bring with them.

The second track "Traces (Of a Tear)" (9:00) is a full exploration of grand piano and synthesizers by Phil Markowitz in which he's given much more chance to demonstrate his skills throughout this track. He does it wonderfully. In its early part, his work is accompanied by percussion and it moves with grand piano and synthesizer are played interchangeably.

"Soaring Through a Dream" (12:26) sounds like an epic with opening part comprising great acoustic guitar work reminiscent of Meola's early days followed with ambient vocal by Airto Moreira and Markowitz' grand piano. For my taste, this song is really good even though it still has significant difference with early days Meola. The music flows beautifully with acoustic guitar work accompanied excellently with grand piano work. Oh yeah, this track is definitely my favorite. Key attraction point is of course the wonderful combination of acoustic guitar and grand piano. It has some breaks after certain solos reach its peak and it flows into silent part. For those of you like jazz would enjoy this track as well. Vocal line enters the music back after long solos of acoustic guitar and grand piano. Structurally, it's a progressive song as it has tempo and style changes quite frequently.

"Broken Heart" (5:00) is a good track and enjoyable. The rest of the tracks: "July" (5:25) and "Marina" (4:45) do not really attract me emotionally even though they are not bad at all.

Overall, it's a very good album with great musicianship of all members in the band. Let alone the title track "Soaring Through A Dream" I can confirm that this is a well-composed epic and it's excellent overall. I leave it up to you to decide on whether or not to purchase this CD. I do not regret having this album - for a change, of course. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW