“I did spend a lot of years by myself, getting into New York City and hanging out in salsa clubs, tapping rhythms”: Al Di Meola reveals one of the most important lessons he’s ever learned in developing a great sense of rhythm

Al Di Meola.

Not only is Al Di Meola revered for his melodic guitar chops, he's also known for his world class rhythmic sensibilities. Throughout his career, the jazz fusion legend has proved time and again the significance of nailing a solid sense of rhythm and, by extension, experimenting with different rhythmic styles.

Di Meola's penchant for rhythmic experimentation first started early on when he developed an affinity for percussion during his school years – and it's an obsession that still continues to this day, as he reveals in a new interview with Rick Beato.