Santana's "Samba Pa Ti" Expanded My Idea Of What A Guitar Can Do
My all time favorite guitar solo was discussed on this blog a long time ago. It's Terry Kath's great one from the album version of Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4," a truly exciting performance that still holds a place in my heart all these years later. However, even though it's the highlight of a fun, high-energy, rock anthem, Kath's playing isn't the only element that makes the song a stoned cold classic. Another astounding track, released later the same year (1970) as Kath's signature solo, is from Santana's greatest album, Abraxas . "Samba Pa Ti" (in English it means "Samba For You") allowed me to understand what the guitar was capable of for the first time. Until I heard this tune I only thought of the electric guitar the way Kath used it, as an instrument that supported a vocalist, blasted out riffs, or rocked hard in a jam session or instrumental break. "Samba Pa Ti" proved that rock's premier, non-vocal a...