The previously unreleased recording featuring Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin & Paco De Lucia “Saturday Night in San Francisco” will be released on July 01, 2022, via earMUSIC. Stream the teaser “Splendido Sundance” through the YouTube player below:
Al Di Meola comments: “40 years ago the Guitar Trio with John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucía and myself played 2 nights in San Francisco! Friday and Saturday Night! Friday Night in San Francisco was released and went on to become a legendary record. Then during the pandemic in 2020 I found the tapes of Saturday Night in my basement. We didn’t even know if they were still any good. But I was curious, so we got the best people in the industry to restore those tapes. And today I couldn’t be more proud to present SATURDAY NIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO… “
The iconic precursor “Friday Night In San Francisco,” recorded at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco on 5 December 1980 (and originally released in 1981), is considered one of all-time best-selling Jazz/Instrumental albums. Treasured for capturing three legendary and diverse guitar virtuosos at the height of their unparalleled mastery, it is a milestone album that went beyond the niche audience with its unique mix of Jazz, Fusion, Flamenco, and Mediterranean music.
Combing through hours of the original 16-track live session tapes, Al Di Meola and his team have curated a breathtaking follow-up: “Saturday Night In San Francisco,” showcasing the explosive virtuosic final performance of the famous Guitar Trio at the Warfield Theatre on December 6, 1980. Al Di Meola says of that final night: “It’s exciting because the audience was right there with us, savoring every single note of music. And, we were ripping. It was crazy good!”
Preorder here: t.ly/kFRl
“Saturday Night In San Francisco” will be available as a CD Deluxe Digipak Edition, Digital Album, 180g Vinyl Gatefold Edition as well as a Strictly Limited Collector’s LP Edition on Heavyweight Crystal-Clear Vinyl.