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DlSCussioßs
by Michael Argenta
CASINO-Al DiMeola
Critics of jazz/rock have had a
lot to say lately. However, what
they have been saying has not
been too good. They complain
about cliches, ineptitude and
the failure of musicians to have
respect for their audience. But
two recent releases have the
critics eating their words; Al
DiMeola's Casino and U.K.'s
first release.
Al DiMeola's Casino (his
third album) has everything a
progressive jazz/rock album
should have. DiMeola covers a
spectrum of guitar sounds rang
ing from crystalline acoustic to
blazing electric. This recording
shows that Al DiMeola has
matured greatly as a composer
and a performer. He is often
criticised for sacrificing beauty
for speed. Casino proves that
false. Where DiMeola used
speed for flash before, he now
uses his speed to project im
ages into his complex compo
sitions. His band also handles
ttte arrangements . ..nary well.
The group consists of: Anthony
Jackson, bass; Barry. Miles,
keyboards; Steve Gadd, drums;
and Mingo Lewis, percussion.
Gadd and Lewis are the
driving force behind the band.
They perform the offbeat Latin
rhythms that are DiMeola's
trademark. But there is no
doubt that this is DiMeola's
album.
On "Egyptian Danza",
DiMeola's guitar soars with
unbelievable intensity as the
percussion section whips out
the beat with painful precision.
The music never drops from
that energy level.
U.K. is a British "super:
gruop" comprised of John Wet
ton (King Crimson), Bill Bru
ford (King Crimson, Yes), Ed
die Jobson (Frank Zappa, Roxy
Music), and Allen Holdsworth
(Soft Machine, Jean-Loc Pon
ty). The group's King Crimson
influences show through clear
ly. Wetton's vocals are very
reminiscent of his former band.
The only thing missing from the
King Crimson mold is the inac
cessibility of their music.
Robert Fripp, guitarist and
leader of King Crimson, made it
very hard for people to under
stand his songs. U.K. are con
centrating on making good
music.
"In the Dead of the Night"
displays the awesome talent in
this group. Bruford's drums
keep perfect time for the
group's difficult arrangements.
Wetton's bass anchors the mus
ic to earth while Holdsworth
whips off some amazing guitar
opposite Jobson's synthesizer
and violin.
The group's soulfullness is
expressed in "Thirty Years".
Lush, thick strings guide the
song through the phrasa and
into the hypnotic vocals. In my
book, U.K. gets five stars.
Short Takes
DON'T LOOK BACK - Boston
If you liked Boston's first
album, you'll like this one. But
if you are looking for some
fresh, new music, this album is
not for you. Boston's second
release comes as a great disap
pointment. The music remains
the same, only the words are
changed to protect the inno
cent.
WHO ARE YOU - The Who
Well, even the best get old.
The Who was never better
instrumentally, but Daltry's
powerful vocals are missing.
The death of Keith Moon leaves
the band very shaky about the
future.
C.C. Reader
e Arts
Danish Gymnasts
Perform At Capitol
MIDDLETOWN--A Danish
gymnastics team, sponsored by
the Danish Organization for
gymnastics and Youth in Den
mark, will perform at Penn
State-Capitol Campus on Sat
urday, September 30 at 3 pm in
the gymnasium of the Multi-
Purpose Building.
The Danish tour consists of
12 women and 12 men per
forming modern Danish rhyth
mic gymnastics as well as folk
Cultural Events
MUSIC
Sept. 30 Concert by "Sonship" - Messiah College, Grantham, 8:30 pm
Oct. 3 & 4 Jethro Tull - Uriah Heap - Spectrum, Phila., tickets $7 & $8
DANCE
Sept. 29 Oktoberfest Dance - Gettysburg College, College Union
THEATRE
Sept 12-Oct. 1 "Auntie Mame" (Musical) Allenberry Playhouse, Boiling
Springs. Tues. thru Sat. 8:30 pm, Wed. and Sat. mat. 2 pm, Sun. mat. 3 pm
Information: (717) 258-6120.
Sept. 29-30 & Oct. 6-7 "The Devil's Diciple" Lebanon Valley College, Annville,
Fri. 8 pm, Sat. 6 pm. Information: 867-4411, ext. 311
Sept. 28-30 "The Sound of Music" Hershey Community Theatre, Fri and Sat
8:15 pm, $l2, $ll, $10.50, $9.50; Sat. mat. 2 pm, $ll, $lO, $9.50, $8.50.
Information: 534-3405
Films
Sept. 29 "The Last Picture Show" HACC, Rose Lehman Arts Center
The gymnastic portion of
the program is entirely dif
ferent from the competitive
meet American audiences are
accustomed to attending. The
women's routines include the
use of balls, ropes, and hoops;
while the men present their
skill using mats, mini trampo
lines and an international
horse. The folk dance reper
toire includes dignified court
dancing as well as peasant
September 28, 1978
style dances. The gymnasts will
be wearing traditional outfits
from their own villages.
Members of the Danish tour
are from all walks of life and
earn their living as teachers,
nurses, farmers, dentists and
homemakers.
There will be a $1 admission
charge for adults and a $.50
charge for children under 12.
For further information con
tact the Athletic Office at 717-
787-7751.