Impex Records continues to honor the legacy of celebrated guitarist Al Di Meola with a new 180 gram LP reissue of his 1977 jazz fusion classic, Elegant Gypsy. The album has been out of print domestically for well over forty years, and original Columbia label pressings—including a limited-edition half speed master LP from 1981—haven't been particularly well-regarded by audiophiles. Elegant Gypsy reached gold record sales status the year of its release, reaching the number 5 position on Billboard's jazz album charts, and the album was honored with Guitar Player magazine's Best Guitar Album of 1977 award. Impex is now giving Elegant Gypsy the all-analog audiophile release fans have been longing for with this new LP reissue.
Elegant Gypsy was remastered from a 1:1 copy of the original analog tapes by Bernie Grundman, who also cut lacquers for the 180 gram LPs at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood. Impex's AAAA, all-analog process from analog original to mix, master, and lacquers was used throughout, and RTI pressed the LPs on high-definition vinyl. The heavy, tip-on jackets were printed by Stoughton, and the clarity of the album images rivals that of my Columbia label original. A printed insert replicates the original printed inner sleeve, and also includes a new note from Al Di Meola. The LP arrived inserted in Impex's heavy poly inner sleeve, which prevents dust accumulation, static build-up, and scratching, and the outer jacket was encased in a resealable outer sleeve. It's a beautiful album package that's totally on par for the level of perfectionism Impex puts into each and every LP reissue. You can order a copy of Elegant Gypsy from Impex's partner Elusive Disc HERE.
Al Di Meola, Elegant Gypsy, Impex Records 180 Gram LP. $39.99
Al Di Meola recorded three albums with iconic fusion group Return To Forever; in the aftermath of a highly successful tour in support of their biggest selling album, 1976's Romantic Warrior, keyboardist and leader Chick Corea shocked the music world by announcing a reformation of the band—which would no longer include guitarist Al Di Meola and drummer Lenny White. Di Meola didn't waste any time, and headed straight into the studio in the middle of that year to record his first solo record, Land of the Midnight Sun. His sophomore effort, Elegant Gypsy, came only months afterwards, and was a commercial and critical success, pushing Di Meola into the spotlight as one of the newest stars of jazz fusion.
For the recording sessions for Elegant Gypsy, Di Meola assembled a core group of talented musicians, including Jan Hammer and Barry Miles on keyboards and synthesizers, Anthony Jackson on bass, Steve Gadd and Lenny White on drums (both had played with Return To Forever at points in the band's career), and Mingo Lewis on congas, synths, and percussion. Elegant Gypsy also marked Di Meola's first recorded performance with Spanish flamenco virtuoso guitarist Paco de Lucia, which planted the seeds for future collaborations. To help market the new album to the public, Di Meola signed onto an American tour as the opener for Weather Report. The tour was well-received, with sold-out shows across the country, and Elegant Gypsy soon reached gold record status in the US. And Al Di Meola suddenly found himself at the forefront of jazz fusion.
The album of mostly Latin-inspired Di Meola originals featured several of his signature tracks, like "Race With Devil on Spanish Highway," which offered a showcase of his lightning-fast guitar technique. Along with "Elegant Gypsy Suite," which opens with his first foray into a multiple Spanish guitar setting, and displays his first inimitable collaboration with the amazing Paco de Lucia. The recording occasionally veers toward progressive rock on Mingo Lewis' "Flight Over Rio," where Di Meola's rapid-fire guitar interplay and Jan Hammer's keyboard and synth bursts brazenly duel against each other, while Steve Gadd's drums and Lewis' congas and percussion pound out the backbeat. As every song on Elegant Gypsy reaches its conclusion, you long for each to continue infinitely, it's that good!
Listening Results
Clicking on my name in the header above will show the full complement of components that occupy my dual audio setups. For Elegant Gypsy, I used the all-analog system for my evaluation; it now features a pair of XSA Labs Vanguard compact monitor loudspeakers, which offer an updated homage to classic British monitor designs like the LS3/5A. They're running in tandem with a pair of Caldera 10 subwoofers to add a couple of extra octaves to the overall bass response. The setup also incorporates PS Audio's superb Stellar phono preamplifier, and the system is powered by my PrimaLuna EVO 300 tube integrated amplifier. It features a matched quad of Sovtek 6550 power tubes and a pair of vintage, NOS Brimar 12AU7 output tubes, both of which have lifted the all-analog EVO 300 to a wondrous new level of sound quality. My ProJect Classic turntable that's mounted with an Ortofon Quintet Bronze moving coil cartridge gave RTI's pressing of Elegant Gypsy the kind of dynamically impressive sound one could only hope for!
RTI's 180 gram LP reissue of Elegant Gypsy was perfection incarnate, with beautifully glossy, defect-free surfaces that were perfectly silent during playback. The LP was razor-flat, with zero ticks or groove noise, providing a perfect foundation of silence for my evaluation. I have an original Columbia label LP copy, which I'd always thought sounded very good; that is, until compared to Impex's superb new reissue, which trounces it on every level! Bernie Grundman's new master has greater clarity, with improved dynamics and deeper, more well-defined bass when compared to my 1977 original. Upon its original release, I felt my assessment of Elegant Gypsy as an excellent LP was spot-on—having heard Impex's new reissue, the shortcomings of the original are more obvious to my ears. Impex has definitely nailed it again with this excellent 180 gram reissue!
Fans will want Impex's new LP reissue in their collection
Al Di Meola's Elegant Gypsy showcases an artist and exceptionally talented guitarist who was at the peak of his creative abilities, and Impex's new reissue helps cement his legend much more dramatically than the original Columbia release ever could. Elegant Gypsy is an album my college buddies and I would—shortly after having imbibed any number of often illicit substances—play again and again, endlessly marveling at Al Di Meola's impressive technique, while spewing nearly non-stop streams of expletives in the process ("How the holy f@ck did he do that?"). Hearing this record again brought those memories back in full force, and Impex's excellent new reissue of Elegant Gypsy has been in constant rotation since it arrived a couple of weeks ago. Thanks to Abey Fonn and everyone at Impex Records and Elusive Disc for making this possible. Elegant Gypsy gets my very highest recommendation!
Impex Records
Elusive Disc
All photos courtesy of Impex Records and Elusive Disc.
