I was there in SF in 1980. I Blew off a date with my girlfriend who wanted to go to Santa Cruz for the weekend.. Most of the audience were musicians/guitarists. WE were all so happy to be seeing these 3 great guitarists Jam together..!! Thank you Bill Graham..!! RIP and Paco...RIP

I was at this show. Got all three autographs and pictures. What a fun night

Anyone else shed a tear watching this?? Please…

I saw them in Stuttgart/Germany. It was a warm summer evening in a park and we could have a nice picnic from my aunt. It was the best concert ever!!!

July or August 1978 in the middle of the night, together with 2 friends of mine, a slim longhaired guy came into my pub. After a few drinks, he grabbed the guitar hanging on the wall and started playing! I was enchanted! It went on into the early morning and we had breakfast together at the Markthalle in Cologne! Days later I found out it was Paco De Lucia! That's the way life is! A big one!

It’s like standing in the rain and getting soaking wet with the brilliance of several of the greatest guitarists that have ever been.

Paco played the guitar in such a fluent and natural way as if it was just one of his body organs. like the guitar was actually scotched to his very soul. makes me weep. RIP Angel of God

Came here for the DiMeola...Stayed for then Paco!!

I'll be simple: there are no words to talk about Paco's talent ... he was not from our galaxy.

No need to compare - just enjoy each for his own talent and style and be thankful that we have such recordings to capture the genius.

I was there with a friend of mine who had never heard of Paco but who was a huge John fan. Driving up from Santa Cruz she made it clear that to her thinking there was not a better guitar player in the world than John. That night John fell to #2.

I love how rowdy the crowd is. Their studio recordings would not lead me to believe people would be this feisty. I love it!

The Good old days. I remember the day the tickets went on sale for their show at Carnegie Hall. It's almost hard to believe that back then alot of kids liked music like this.

John and Paco have an incredible chemistry.

Paco was the biggest ambassador of the flamenco to the world.

All three are amazing guitarists who display incredible technique. When John and Al play, though, it feels a bit as if the compositions are used to showcase their technique. But, when Paco plays, it feels as though his technique is used to showcase the composition.

I remember when this album came out, my friend and i would sit around for hours listening, studying and critiquing.

I remember an older guiltar player friend of mine showing me this video. I've been playing bass for over 20 years but was shocked to see this, having no knowledge of any of the 3 men. I cried, i won't lie. I told him this seemed like god and satan had a bet. Satan told god to pick three mortals to challenge his finest demons for the souls of all mankind. The show ends after the 3 get done. There was no need to even try to beat them. They are playing like they fight for our immortal souls lol!

Paco was incredible. A true force of mature, who took himself and flamenco to new heights.

Paco Lucia was an alien. Not only did he have the ability to slow down time, he also had six fingers on each hand, though they were cleverly disguised by playing so fast...

Paco de fricken Lucia! The absolute greatest what a monster!

sono stati i miei miti sin da bambino , e lo saranno sempre. Questo concerto è del periodo di friday night in San Francisco.... Paco ....unico.....R.I.P. grazie per tutto quello che ci ha fatto provare ascoltandoti e vedendoti suonare..... grazie per aver messo tutto il concerto !!!!!

Saw them 1981 in NYC. I took my mother along to the concert. I was 27 she was 52 at the time. We both loved it.

I saw them in Bologna in 1982 during my unlucky one-year soldier experience. I was 19 yo and I am not a guitar player nor expert...but i rstill remember that I was astonished! If I only could live again that moments.... anyway ... great artists and lucky to see them.. bye friends

Lo de Paco es de otro nivel, perfección y naturalidad con la mística del flamenco.

I was at the Friday Night in San Francisco recording… Absolutely mind blowing. I still get goosebumps listening to that CD now.

Wow i disnt think it was possible to forget how good this trio of dedicated musicians were ! I had this 2 disc vynal album when it came out then evertyhing went CD i have followed Mclaughlins carear but toghether their pushed each other to what some people say these days the next level absolutely phenomenal bravo meastros thank you muchas gracias obligardo and cheers from Scotland

This recording has serious sound quality for the serious listener. Thanks Bill Graham for letting the tapers record this performance. Killer audio.

I was there! Front row - John McLaughlin gave me flowers from the stage after.. magical night.

Paco ... gracias ... donde sea que estés ... en el cielo seguro .. tocándole feliz a dios tu guitarra seguro ... tu vida es un honor para el arte, El sonido, los conciertos y las grabaciones de Paco rinden homenaje a su padre, un hombre excepcionalmente visionario y verdaderamente revolucionario, que con tanto amor hizo de Paco un artista único y genial, similar a otros padres como Mozart, Beethoven ... La magia y el duende de paco provino de estudios autodidactas intensivos... su padre obligándole a ejecutar escalas y escalas... y tocar para comer... todo es gestar y luego parir dice Rilke,,, esos años de estudio durísimo le hicieron quien es... y su padre fue crucial... fue su voluntad... vivan los padres de los genios...la mitad del mérito es de ellos. Tiene la mezcla más difícil de todas, virtud y virtuosismo, es un poeta del instrumento. Paco no es solo un artista del más alto calibre, disciplina y musicalidad, sino el arquetipo del artista moderno, el maestro aislado y valiente, que encuentra su propio camino hacia nuevas alturas de expresión, sin importar los prejuicios o las barreras de incomprensión levantadas en su contra. Se encuentra solo al comienzo de una nueva época como un profeta, trazando los caminos que tomara el arte. El sonido catártico y místico de Paco, se ocupa por los últimos misterios que trascienden en este mundo. Su arte grandioso, colosal y majestuoso, simboliza la lucha del alma humana por encontrar la liberación de las ataduras de su cuerpo material. Su música exquisita y abrumadora continúa resonando durante toda el recital y más allá, por lo que la acción es a la vez momentánea, eterna y completa. Las interpretaciones de Paco son indescriptiblemente bellas e irresistibles. Su sonido es pura poesía y extremadamente emocional, pero sin sentimentalismos. Nos hipnotiza su nueva y radical naturalidad, su nobleza, dignidad, severidad y sobriedad; transportándonos a estados de asombro, éxtasis, meditación, amor y compasión. - Sonido y Silencio, Vida y Muerte, Tiempo y Espacio; colapsan en el momento Eterno del Infinitud. - Está al nivel de los mejores músicos interpretes de la historia como Maria Callas, Vladimir Horowitz, Ivo Pogorelich ... Paco podría haber haber coincidido con estos consejos del gran pianista Ivo Pogorelich... "Lucha y encuentra la sustancia, luego ve a las esferas superiores. La música te lleva a otro universo de eternidad que permanece contigo una vez finalizado el concierto. Lucha por conseguir calidad, profundiza ... encuentra el origen del sonido. La técnica no es solo ir rápida y lento ... es el sonido, el sonido largo, la paleta de colores, es entrar en un espacio de mundos diferentes, alcanzando la diversidad de los sonidos. Rachmaninov tenía artritis al final de su vida, estaba tan débil que su sonido era muy corto, por eso tocaba rápido, para llenar el vacío. Si tienes un sonido largo estás al mando y puedes lograr la claridad y el sonido hipnótico entre las notas. El problema siempre fue el conflicto y la diferencia entre la calidad absoluta y la relativa. La belleza en la música es como en los diamantes, el diamante más puro del mundo es el Koh-i-Noor, es la belleza absoluta con la que se comparan otros con relativa belleza. La mayoría de la música que pude escuchar fue solo un acto circense, ostentoso... de piezas virtuosas para pianistas jóvenes e inmaduros, fueron solo pruebas de destreza mecánica manual, no arte. Hay que adentrarse en el estado de ánimo psicológico en el que los compositores escribieron sus obras para descubrir sus secretos. Trabaja tan duro como un esclavo de galeras. No practico ejercicios. Cuando practico una pieza, hago algunas variaciones de ella, inventando mis propios ejercicios para ayudar en ese lugar particular preciso que necesito mejorar. La técnica es el arte de la variedad, el arte de saber cómo ajustar la mano a un grupo particular de notas para producir un sonido particular que se ajuste a las expectativas particulares del oído. El sonido se vuelve metafísico solo cuando se ha explorado completamente todas las posibilidades físicas. Deberías explorar hasta llegar al absurdo. Siempre se debe intentar en la medida de lo posible redescubrir la música como si la estuvieras escuchando por primera vez, buscando por todas partes nuevos significados y nuevas profundidades. La función más alta del artista es liberar la espiritualidad y la inmediatez emocional que se encuentran dentro de la partitura. Estar constantemente involucrado en la investigación, no solo miro las cosas como aparecen, sino que también trato de encontrar los laberintos, los secretos de la música. Una composición solo se puede interpretar bien si es completamente tuya, no solo cada nota de la memoria, sino que las notas se han convertido en ti y tu te has convertido en las notas. Nada pasa por casualidad. Llámalo una fuerza que algunas personas piensan que controla lo que sucede en el futuro, y está fuera del control humano, llámalo preordenación, pero a veces sucede. Después de todo, el elemento humano trae la felicidad total ". Ivo Pogorelich.

One Day after the legendary "Friday Night in San Francisco", this is legendary, too. They are true masters of the guitar, of improvisation and of passion in playing together! No one can tell how powerfull their influence on other guitarists and musicians really is! I think the guitar world was never the same after this event!!! Pioneers!!!

Absolutamente fantástico!!! Sou abençoada por ter tido a chance de ver John e Paco tocando, não juntos. Em Lausanne, pude conversar com o Paco em portunhol, pedir um autógrafo!!! Quanta emoção! Bons tempos!!!

El tono, el sonido y hasta la impronta de Paco en su lenguaje corporal denotan otro nivel. Realmente soberbia ejecución del instrumento.

Hopefully Paco's legacy carries on Strongly...........such an amazing, beautiful player

For me, Paco. His fingers... unreal. Cosmic Movement

no need to compare. I choose to enjoy the brilliance of these musicians, who were all fans of each other's work and abilities.

Amazing intro by McLaughlin! Wowzers. That has to be one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. That guitar sounds amazing too, the low end is just ... wow.

Incredible trio of talent! I think Paco's second solo piece is arguably the most impressive guitar playing that I have ever seen. Simply wondrous 😮

Paco es de otra dimensión.....

paco de lucia with the clearest tone. so impressive. unreached. RIP

RIP Paco he trully held them to gether his monster rythm playing i love John,and Al both the finest guitarists but Paco just a different league all together wow

I was incredibly fortunate to see the three of them play at the University of Chicago when they started this "more notes per dollar" tour. Truly awe inspiring.

I was in Strasbourg, France in May 2016 and there was a movie showing across the street about the life of Paco De Lucia, in Spanish with French subtitles. I could read the subtitles. Paco’s father was a somewhat well-known Flamenco guitarist. One day he was giving his seven year old son a guitar lesson. He couldn’t quite get it. Five year old Paco who apparently hadn’t touched a guitar to that point took the guitar out of his brother’s hands and played the piece perfectly the first time through. The father jumped up and flew into a rage because he realized Paco would be far greater than he ever was. An original member of this trio was Larry Coryell before he was replaced with McLaughlin. He was interviewed and told the story about how one day Paco asked him what improvisation was. Coryell said he looked at him like he was crazy and told him it was what he had been doing on stage with them. Paco said he still didn’t understand. Coryell explained that it was if you were in the key of G you played all the notes in the key of G. That seemed to ring a bell. Paco had apparently been playing completely by ear with no knowledge of music theory. I saw Coryell twice, once doing two shows at the Blue Note in Greenwich Village in 1999 with Pat Martino and again in Portland OR in about 2007. He was shocked when I presented LP copies of the two albums he did with Philip Catherine for him to autograph. There are some very memorable cuts on both albums. Saw Dimeola once with Chick Corea in Portland, 2008.

Paco had me spellbound. I love they way they tune up like a bunch of amateurs and then launch into lightening speed shredding.

That we have this preserved and available for on demand consumption is nothing short of miraculous.

I saw 3 legendary guitarists in concert in 1981. What a memorable night it was..thank you for sharing. Paco really shined when he played by himself. May he rest in peace!

just had to say this. 1980 (same tour). aged 22 working in berlin germany, sat on the stage next to them at what i remember was a gig in a place called "the circus". there was a very small audience. and Al let me me sit on the edge of the low small stage by him and paco and JMc, ofcourse i didn't want to be an asshole, he said ok stay there don't worry enjoy! and as a guitar player myself this has been a cherished memory to this day. believe me i experienced magic that night!

Al Di Meola y John McLaughlin son maravillosos guitarristas. Pero cuando escucho a Paco de Lucía es como escuchar al planeta Tierra completo

Al DI meola!...the pride of our town, Bergenfield, New Jersey!

ALL 3 ARE SIMPLY PHENOMENAL !! PACO, JOHN & AL BELONG TO THE GREATEST MUSICIANS - EVER. THEIR MUSICAL CONTRIBUTION STANDS ABOVE CRITIC. AS SOLISTS, BANDLEADERS OR GUITAR PLAYERS. EACH ONE HAS HIS VERY OWN STILE. ALSO I ASUME THAT EACH ONE PLAYS SOME MUSIC THAT TO THE OTHER IS NOT SO ''NEAR''. ALL 3 CAN PLAY HIGH SPEED BUT AT THE SAME TIME SUPER CLEAN AND QUITE. MELODY, TEMPOS, VOLUME AND ENERGY OF THEIR MUSIC IS ALWAYS A PERFORMANCE, THAT IS SO HIGH IN EVERY ASPECT THAT ANY CRITIC OR COMPARING MAKES US SHALOW. WHEN GRAND MASTERS PLAY, WE MUST SIMPLY LISTEN - AND ONLY LISTEN !! IF WE WOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO ASK THEM THEIR OPINION ABOUT THIS CONCERT, ONLY THEN WE MIGHT BE EVENTUALY ALLOWED TO MAKE A COMENT THAT REFLECTS OUR VERY OWN AND PERSONAL OPINION IN MATTERS OF PERSONAL TASTE. TO ME, PACOS WAY OF BUILDING, COMPOSING MUSIC, BASED ON THE GUITAR, SOUNDS IN MY EARS MORE SOPHISTICATED. MORE PREPARED AND MATURE. TO ME, PACOS GUITAR PLAYING SOUNDS MORE PLESANT. WARMER, CLEANER, SHARPER. CONSIDERING THAT HE DOES IT ALL WITHOUT A PLECTRON MAKES HIM SURE UNIQUE. WE CAN FEEL THE INFLUENCE AND GREAT CULTURE OF CLASIC SPANISH GUITAR AND FLAMENCO. A STYLE THAT BELONGS TO THE MOST DIFFICULT ONES. TO PLAY IT ON SUCH AN INCREDIBLE LEVEL, MAKES HIM ONE OF THE GREATEST OF ALL TIMES. BUT SO THE OTHER 2 GREAT MASTERS. HOW COULD WE POSIBLY MAKE ANY COMENT ABOUT THE PHENOMENAL WAY THAT JOHN AND AL PLAY AND EXPRESS MUSIC ? I HARDLY CAN THINK OF ANY OTHER GUITAR PLAYER THAT NOT ONLY CAN IMPROVISE IN ANY STYLE OF MUSIC LIKE AL AND JOHN, BUT ALSO LEADING ALL SORTS OF MUSIC. THE REPERTOIR OF THIS 2 PERSONALITYS IS JUST BEYOND ANY COMENTS. FROM JAZZ TO ROCK, THEN BLUES TO LATIN, FUNK AND CLASIC, TILL IN TO THE MOST COMPLEX BUT SO PLESENT WORLD OF ETHNIC MUSIC. (SHAKTI, ARMENIAN AND HELLEN. THE LIST FOR THIS TWO GUYS IS JUST ENDLESS. THEI CAN PLAY ANYTHING - AND COOK AT THE SAME TIME. I CANT FIND ANY WORD THAT WOULD REFLECT FAIR ENOUGH THIS 3 LEGENDS. I ONLY CAN SAY - "BLESSED FROM GOD TO BE MUSIC - IN ANY WAY AND FORM".

This album is the Legend!! One of the most outstanding albums ever.. my idols... RIP, Maestro..

I was fortunate enough to see them at the Wilshire theater in LA. Steve Morse opened with a classical guitar set and joined them later as a quartet. EVH was in the audience and Emmett Chapman was in line next to me. An amazing night!

Such a wonderful performance! I love that Di Meola plays an acoustic with a pick, McLaughlin plays a classical with a pick, and De Lucia plays a classical fingerstyle, so each has his own unique sound, and in all their different combinations they deliver something different and magnificent in its own way. Also their messing around with each other is hilarious XD

El mejor trío del mundo y Paco de Lucía el mejor de los tres. Su guitarra con una técnica pura, sin artificios ni accesorios, sus arpegios son digitados, no son solo vibratos de vitela como los otros. El sonido y la acústica son los más diáfanos, entre otras cualidades interpretativas que lo hacen EL MEJOR!

These 3 I reckon at this time were untouchables... Masters of their own particular Genres. Whereas I agree to a degree that you cannot compare... It has to be said that whenever Paco does what he does.. the others simply sit there and gawk with Jaws to the floor - even the Great John McLaughlin. Check out 45:45... Not the first time Paco has done this either to his closest peers in terms of talent. There's a short clip on the web too of him giving Carlos Santana a quick lesson! The man was a legend and a God... an Untouchable. EVen watching his fret work, picking and scales on Monasterio de Sol... he's all over that Guitar. Totally owns it! The man is as much a part of the music as it is part of him....Had the pleasure of seeing him on a few occasions. John McLaughlin too... There may never be anything to touch this ever again... So glad to have been born when I was and grow up with the 60's and the golden age of Music

paco de lucia el dios de la guitarra española.R.I.P.

RIP Paco he is the best, we live on to remember him.

I saw these three fabulous guitarists perform live in Chicago many years ago. It was fabulous.

Es propia de los grandes la generosidad, y esto es un regalo de magia pura para los mortales ávidos de alimento espiritual!!

Oh, such music. What could be better string work than Mclaughlin, De, Meola, De Luca? Marvelous, just marvelous. Thank you.

natural beauty of music Paco

Me encanta que de vez en cuando mete una alzapúa ahí atacando el bordón con el dedo gordo, suena poderoso y muy peculiar en medio de tanta escala y de música no flamenca. Paco siempre tuvo claro quién y qué era.

i come here anytime i miss how true music sounds like... miss those days...

Respect to all and these groundbreaking performances! Paco is truly missed ~

Saw these guys in the early 80’s in LA,,,so fantastic….Al can stretch 9 frets….so good!

I was fortunate to catch this when it aired on PBS almost 40yrs ago. I was a little kid. Watched the entire thing and loved it.

Great idea to show these artist on their own at first. John Mc Laughlin opens with a simply fantastic mix of blues, jazz, and flamenco, then follows virtuoso Al Di Meola with jazz mixed with italien songs, and ends with pure and stunning bursts of flamenco from the master Paco de lucia, Thanks a lot for loading this precious music

So nice to see such great talent is a understatement. It's great to see the man who brought us so much of the music scene. Mr. Bill Graham.

As talented as the newcomers such as Gilad Hekselman coming up are, we will never again see the likes of these three.

Tinha o k7 do concerto quando adolescente, jamais havia visto imagens hoje aos 37 anos, vendo este espetáculo, tenho certeza que foi uma dos momentos mais intensos da música de todos os tempo, pura genialidade e bravura! Emocionante demais🙏

To all the people saying "This guy blew that guy away...this guy is an amateur" etc, why are you here? If you don't like one or the other just go to a McLaughlin, Paco, or Al video and watch them play by themselves.😂

Like all ways paco de Lucia Is just fantastic playing because Of he's originality creativity innovator Has made him the master of the guitar Gracias maestro paco de Lucia

Music began when Paco came into.

Second Paco's playing is the most awesome performance that I've ever heard

John is my man. Can play anything.

This is not Jazz this is Flamenco!!!!!!!!!

Pure masters on top of their game. Each with special strengths and individual powers. And they were having fun together as well. Makes me proud to be human in these strange times and reminds me of what we can achieve. Thank you so much for posting. I am sitting back with a big glass of Crozes-Hermitage and a big smile on my face.

paco is the Man

Paco!!!!!! te hecho de menos.... ainss dios mio por que nos lo quitaste ya coño??? que bien tocas aquí maestro!!! nunca te olvidaré y siempre te predicare....

Saw one night in Sf and the Davies Sympathy Hall in SanFrancisco . I thought this was how it was..thankfulness

Si existe un cielo, estaba en ese escenario. Simplemente ETERNO.

One of the greatest concerts ever! BUT REALLY BEST! Changed the world of music and my music world.

I was at this show, it was mind blowing and inspirational

I saw this tour at the music Hall in Houston Texas and Steve Morse played with them. Four guitarists on stage. I got pictures. I was in the second row front and center.

Three Maestros and please know that Paco is the number one guitarist in all the history of the planet.

Wow,these three together is just majic.Thank you,'Al,John and Paco.

Amazing playing from three true masters of the instrument!!Bravo!!!!!

Never had so much fun watching two guys tune up. !

Wow, the best guitar players in the world. I saw it in East Berlin in 1988

Had the great fortune of seeing this tour in San Juan, PR in '81.

Disfrutar la excelencia❤

One last thing. I really love Al Di Meola's new album. Please go out and buy it. Don't just cheat and get it for nothing on the internet. Support Him and others that we so much appreciate as fans.

In my view Paco has been probably the most talented natural player...

I think I've started to pin down what is so special about Paco's playing. You can imagine his melodies as a human voice. He gives time for the singer to breathe (not at all surprising to the flamenco fans out there, given that Paco dedicated most of his early life to interacting with singers). Because guitars and pianos don't have to take a breath, many otherwise good players drone on and on.

I remember very well the first time I listened to this album, was in 1984 during one of my jazz guitar lessons. My life really changed, and still today I need to listen to this album at least one time per year. I have every possible format: vinyl, cd, digital format and sheet music too with transcriptions. I've never imagined to find the video! When I start to see it, my fingers cannot press Stop or Pause. Thanks for this!

Tres. Genios de la guitarra y de la musicalidad son serán eternos por los siglos

Saw these guys in 1983 while dating a girl from Munster Germany. Saw Al Di Meola last week. Really was a pretty amazing show.

Al di meola is so freaking good

Concerts never used to be a ridiculous price, ...in early Sept., 1981, i was walking along a sidestreet in Athens, Greece, as you do,...and was stunned to see a little poster in a shop window announcing that Mclaughlin, De Lucia and Di Meola would be playing that night up in the ancient ampi-theatre overlooking the city. Couldn't believe my luck! Still have the programme..8^)

Increíbles. Tres grandes. Un lujo incomparable. ¡¡Gracias por éste maravilloso regalo, Maestros!!