"The evening with Al and Stephanie was absolutely
incredible. I had very high expectations going into the evening and was not
disappointed for even a second! From the moment Stephanie greeted us the door
of their beautiful home until Al walked us to our car in the wee hours, their
warmth and hospitality made us feel like welcomed guests. They are gracious
hosts, exceptional cooks, and fascinating human beings. The evening was filled
with fun and laughter as we enjoyed an amazing meal and were regaled with story
after story from their rich, colorful lives. Tales gathered over the years
from Al’s legendary career, life composing, in the studio and on the
road, their travels together and anecdotes of encounters with a who’s who of
music and entertainment legends flowed nonstop with dizzying speed. The night
was filled with personal stories and memories of musical collaborations with a
cast of characters ranging from Chick Corea, John McLaughlin and Paco De Lucia
to Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, Jack Bruce and Lenny Kravitz to Laurence Fishburne.
Wow! The coupe de gras came after desert when Al invited us to his studio for a
private concert. I have spent my life traveling the world to hear the finest
musical talents. I have seen and heard some fantastic performances over the
years, but I must say that the opportunity to experience Al’s artistry in such
an intimate setting was a rare and special privilege. In addition to his
virtuosity, he shared his philosophies, techniques and approach to composing.
We were given an up close and personal view into the mind and talent of a
genius. This was truly a one-of-a-kind experience — one I will treasure always.
And, I will always be grateful to Al and Stephanie for making such a magical
experience possible.”
Kent Savage
Miami, Florida
"It was fantastic to be hosted by Al and Stephanie,
great conversation and stories. The meal was exquisite, both delicious and a
sight to behold. It was a privilege to hear some pieces that are still work in
progress, some other pieces that Al enjoys, and some songs from past albums. Al
was able to adjust the lesson for a novice like me, came with some exercises I
hadn’t seen in his literature, patiently helped me through struggles, and
introduced several variations leaving me with plenty of practice material and
ideas how to extend it. It was a pleasure to visit and play in the studio and
room where a number of songs had been recorded. I’m very grateful I had an
opportunity to visit, what a silver lining to this apocalyptic year."
Paulius Micikevicious
San Francisco, California
“We really can’t come up with the appropriate adjectives to
describe how special our night with Al and Stephanie was, but if you’re on this
page reading this review, then I’m guessing you can imagine! Surreal,
comfortable, personal… mind blowing. A five-star dinner prepared by guitar
virtuoso, Al Di Meola, great conversation and a private concert in his studio
surrounded by his guitars. Top it off with an impromptu guitar lesson and jam
session and days later, we are still shaking our heads in disbelief. We were
amazed by Al’s unassuming personality considering the genius that speaks
through his guitar. An experience like this can’t be captured in photographs or
paragraphs like this one. If you’re a fan, especially a big fan, you must not
let this opportunity pass you by. Thank you to our hosts, Al and Stephanie, for
an evening that will not be forgotten.”
Debra Piccolo-Martin & Ron Piccolo
Westport, Connecticut
"We had just an amazing night. Mr. Al Di Meola and
Stephanie treated us to a beautiful dinner but the real treat here is:
the discussion
the passion
the stories of Al’s life are mesmerizing
the food was impeccable.
What a beautiful experience, we highly recommend it
After 45 years of listening his music ... to meet your teenage idol was
breathtaking. I am so grateful! He is a musical genius and a elegant gentleman
professional! I will never forget this night!"
Dr. Dean Vafiadis
Englewood, New Jersey
"What an amazing life experience my friend and I had.
We’ve been long time fans since your Casino record. The opportunity to actually
watch you as a chef, then sit down and eat a three course amazing meal with
answers to questions I had all my life was truly a bucket list wish fulfilled.
The tour of your home was like visiting a famous museum. The history of our
favorite composer-guitarist was nothing short of incredible! Then, proceeding
to Al’s studio after dinner for an intimate show was something out of a dream,
we were mesmerized. The lesson after was incredibly helpful and the jam was the
icing of the cake! Well worth our trip from Illinois! I’m thinking of doing it
again with my cousin hopefully! Really great!"
Tod Skarinski and Jim Crown
Chicago, Illinois
"I was able to do the Diamond Package on July 27, 2020
and I am so happy I did it! The food and atmosphere was supreme, the house is
incredible and then going down to Al's studio was a true, once in a lifetime
treat. He played a solo set for over an hour, answered all my questions and
couldn't have been more generous in his time and effort. I can recommend this
to everybody who loves good music and food. Thank you Al and Stephanie for
opening up your beautiful home!"
Mark Burnstein
Detroit, Michigan
"My husband John and I have been married for 25 years.
On our first date, he took me to see Al at the Blue Note and since then, his
music has been the soundtrack of our life. Now since this year all our
vacations got cancelled, why not surprise John with a truly incredible
anniversary gift only a car ride away? Al and Stephanie made our night so
special, John started crying when he found out what was happening! Al played
such a beautiful, emotional concert just for us! I am so grateful for this
opportunity! Thank you all!"
Jennifer Aitken
New York, New York
