In the '70s, guitarist Al Di Meola was the teenage phenom who burst on the scene with pianist Chick Corea and Return to Forever. Three decades later, his Memphisto-like prowess is still in effect, as evidenced by this impressive disc. With a number of world-class musicians--including drummer Steve Gadd, bassist John Patitucci, and keyboardist Barry Miles--Di Meola conjures up a whirling dervish of sounds that easily groove in fusion, world music, and techno contexts. The two versions of "San Marco" are cast in New World improvisations and Old World airs. "Tao," "Hypnose," "Tempest," "Black Pearls," and the "Africana Suite" swing with East Asian, Arabic, and West African harmonic and rhythmic motifs. Corea joins his former bandmate on the Santana-like "Red Moon" and the light but funky "Odyssey." Di Meola, who also plays percussion and keyboards, has grown with the times, with his killer power chords intact. --Eugene Holley Jr.