(MusicPortal.com) (02/24/05)

By Michael Bennett

NEW YORK, NY, USA - One has been repeatedly hailed as the world's best guitarist, the other is Russia's most successful musician.

And together, AL DI MEOLA and LEONID AUGUTIN are simply incredible.

For their upcoming album, "Cosmopolitan Life" (slated for release on March 7th), the two have created a unique sound, giving the word "crossover" a whole new dimension.

Is this sophisticated Pop for adults, or popular World Music?

No matter what you call it, the sounds created by this fantastic duo should please lovers of practically all musical genres. Dreamily beautiful Pop tunes meld with Russian Jazz, Gypsy rhythms and Argentinian Tango.

Although Augutin sings most of the numbers in English, he keeps inserting passages in other languages.

The title song, for instance, has a Portuguese chorus.

The Muscovite's distinctive voice leads the listener through the widest variety of cultures.

"People from all countries can recognize themselves in our songs," he says. "A European will love our CD just as much as an American or an Asian."

Each song has a mood of its own.

For instance, the sunny 'Tango' is bubbling over with South American vivacity.

'Blue River' shows off the many and varied facets of Pop music. If you like Sting, you'll love the latter track.

'Portofino' conjures up a warm Summer night in southern Europe, while 'Cuba Africa' blends African elements with Cuban sounds.

All the songs on "Cosmopolitan Life " leave plenty of scope for Al Di Meola's excellent guitar playing as well, whether displaying his virtuosity in extended solos or providing discreet accompaniment to Augutin's singing.

The result is a masterwork that took some time to mature, as Di Meola and Augutin spent nearly two years at work on the album.

Things began in 2002 with five joint appearances in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

"We were exploring each other's musical worlds at the time," Augutin recalls.

He was fascinated by Di Meola's sophisticated guitar riffs and rich harmonies, while Di Meola was impressed by the great potential of Augutin's compositions.

"For me, Augutin's music is not typically Russian, it is international," Di Meola affirms.

From the start, his guitar playing fit in perfectly with Augutin's songs, which is why the duo decided to record "Cosmopolitan Life" at the legendary Criteria Hit Factory in Miami, Florida.

A place where superstars like the Bee Gees have written their hits, the studio presented the ideal atmosphere for Di Meola and Augutin's ambitious venture, where the duo engaged only the best musicians in Anthony Jackson, Vinnie Collaiuta, Gumbi Ortiz and Ron Taylor - all masters in their own field.

Once in the studio, Di Meola and Augutin expected nothing less than peak performance from every participant.

Together they lay the foundation for each track, after which each traveled back to New York and Moscow, where they worked on polishing the songs for "Cosmopolitan Life."

Even the recording took over a year.

"We gave a lot of attention to each individual number," Augutin relates.

They were also very critical in selecting which songs should go on the album, coming up with ten unique tracks in which each note rings true.

And yet, there is "always room for improvement," at least according to Augutin.

At every concert, he is al

ways looking to add new aspects to his music. "A concert makes more of an impression than any CD," he insists. A show in Berlin tests the truth of his assertion.

In Germany's multicultural capital, he and Di Meola introduce "Cosmopolitan Life" to its first live audience. The evening also features some of Di Meola's own compositions - promising to enhance his reputation as one of the truly great guitarists of the present day.

A man who has sold more than nine million records around the world, Al Di Meola surely needs no introduction.

Di Meola began his career with Chick Corea's Return To Forever, with whom he won a Grammy when he was just 19 years old.

After venturing off on his own in 1976 with "Land Of the Midnight Sun," Di Meola released a large number of solo albums, adding to his fame in the 1980s with a legendary trio consisting of himself, Paco De Lucia and John McLaughlin.

He was no less popular for his partnership with Stanley Clarke and Jean-Luc Ponty in 1995.

So what would follow next?

The "Infinite Desire" album, which spent over three months of 1999 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts, climbed to Number 3 in the German Jazz charts and was at the top of the Italian Jazz charts for eight weeks.

The follow-up albums also enjoyed similar success, with "Flesh On Flesh" receiving high critical praise in 2002.

Leonid Augutin is also another darling of the critics.

Born in Moscow, he studied piano there, and began writing for Russian musicians in 1991.

His 1994 debut, "The Barefoot Fella," made Leonid Augutin a star in his homeland - leading to his being named "Singer Of The Year" in Russia and receiving awards for Song Of The Year and Album Of The Year as well.

Six more albums followed, after which Augutin has been the headliner many times at several large concerts since, while also making appearances on most of the popular entertainment shows on Russian television.

In his native land alone, Leonid Augutin has sold more than ten million albums.

Since 1996, he has toured North America regularly, with Americans now enjoying him every bit as much as his own countrymen do.

Augutin also considers himself a "world citizen," seeking to build cultural bridges between nations with his music.

He should find that easy enough with Al Di Meola at his side on "Cosmopolitan Life," on which the pair climb practically every musical mountain.

"Cosmopolitan Life" Track Listing:

1. Cuba Africa (5.36)
2. Cosmopolitan Life (4.11)
3. Nobody (4.47)
4. Price To learn (5.30)
5. Tango (3.55)
6. Smile (4.23)
7. Portofino (3.37)
8. If I'll Get A Chance... (4.09)
9. Blue River (4.44)
10. Shade Of Your World (6.15)
11. Cosmopolitan Life (Video) (4.09)

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