I really like Friday Night in San Francisco by the Guitar Trio (de Lucia, Mclaughlin, di Meola). The 1st track (Sundance - Rio Ancho) is by far my favorite, with the 4th (Fantasia Suite) coming in 2nd. I love their virtuosity and creativity, and that style (latin? jazz?), but I’m kind of ambivalent about how they put it together. When it does click, it’s magnificent, but I don’t like their tendency (in this album, anyway) to randomly noodle to the detriment of the song. I guess that’s just a function of playing live. Are there any bands that have the mind-blowing skill of the Guitar Trio while also having the restraint of, say, Dire Straits?
Any recomendations are most welcome.