Joe Diorio Licks

Joe Diorio was one of the busiest session jazz guitarists of the 1960s and '70s.  He has very impressive improvisational skills and technique.

He released his first album, called 'Solo Guitar', in 1975 and made several albums since, including a tribute Cd to Wes Montgomery and one to Bossa Nova legend Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Later he increasingly turned his focus to teaching.  He started teaching at the University of Miami and later at the University of Southern California and the GIT (Guitar Institute of Technology).
He wrote some instructional books, including Fusion Guitar: Contemporary Guitar Solos Based on Classic Jazz Progressions.

Recommended listening: 'The Breeze and I'

Minor II-V-I Lick

1)  This lick works over a minor II V I and is based on the D harmonic minor scale.
The harmonic minor scale is a natural minor scale with a raised 7th note (C# in this case) which gives us the 3rd for the dominant chord (A7) of the minor key. Played over the dominant chord the harmonic minor scale gives us tensions b9 en b13. The harmonic minor scale is a very common sound in jazz.