Al Di Meola, Dodi Battaglia, One Sky Review

American fusion guitar legend Al Di Meola teams up with Italian guitar legend Dodi Battaglia to create a brand-new track called “One Sky,” which is being released as a limited colored 45 RPM vinyl disc and on all digital platforms. Both Di Meola and Battaglia need no introduction, having amassed a global cult following since the 1970s through their extensive catalog of pioneer guitar playing for over two decades. Battaglia’s guitar skills reached the masses as he is the lead guitarist for the renowned Italian band Pooh. Di Meola began his career as a guitarist with Chick Corea’s band Return to Forever in 1974. Since then, he has released over 20 albums as a leader. Other collaborations include the celebrated acoustic guitar trio featuring fellow virtuosos John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, and The Rite of Strings trio with bassist Stanley Clarke and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. With “One Sky,” the two guitarists merge their different musical backgrounds and distinct guitar styles into a modern pop-rock setting.

Bottom Line: “One Sky” was produced by Azzurra Music and is the first single from a new album of unreleased songs by Battaglia releasing in 2021. Di Meola says: “Dodi and myself act as a kind of natural bridge between our different styles with the six strings, and we have created ‘One Sky,’ a disparate fusion of disciplines miles away from each other but united by the same love for music and the liberating power that it can express.” The result is an exciting crossover experience of Battaglia’s unmistakable pop-rock sound and the world jazz influences of Di Meola. Di Meola’s nylon-strung guitar plays the melody for the intro. The haunting female vocals are sung by Dodi Battaglia as Di Meola fills the space. The center section features Battaglia delivering a pop-rock guitar solo that is tasteful and energetic. Di Meola answers with his signature pristine picking and fluidity. The production is solid, and the female vocalist adds to the sound and helps solidify the two styles. A treat for fusion guitarist, and that’s the short of it!

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