The guitar Trio’s debut album “Friday Night In San Francisco” was recorded on 5^th December 1980 at the Warfield Theatre for a supergroup featuring Spain’s flamenco master Paco de Lucia, the American fusion star Al Di Meola and classical Jazz master John McLaughlin.  In 1981 CBS Columbia released this album under serial no. CK37152.

Followed with the big success of the concert as well as the album, in 1983 this supertrio collaborated for their second album “Passion, Grace, and Fire”, a title, which describes their music perfectly. In 1996, they re-united for their third album “The Guitar Trio”.    

No doubt, the “Passion, Grace, and Fire” and “The Guitar Trio” are both excellent albums recorded with tremendous studio effects for their perfect trio music collaboration. But, personally I find that these two albums do not deliver the same kind of thrilling and excitements as from their first album “Friday Night In San Francisco” which was recorded live. 

Like what John McLaughlin described, “On stage we had a wonderful time, and the audiences seemed to be thrilled with the whole idea of three acoustic guitar playing together. This kind of intimacy was probably refreshing to them. It certainly was to us.” 

Also as what Al Di Meola said, “It was a night of pure balls to the wall, but highly creative balls to the wall. It was an unbelievable climax t our first two-month tour.”

For those already own a copy of this album, I believe that they never forget the remarkable “Mediterranean Sundance / Rio Ancho in track #1 where Al Di Meola and Paco de Lucia were both like challenging each other with their acoustic guitars playing at impossible high speed.

I do believe, many of you already have a copy of this CD released by CBS Columbia in 1981. By the way, have you bought in its newer version using 20bit-remastered technology? In fact, this version has been available in market since 1997?