Bloggerhythms

Let's start with a little clarification. Santana IV , released in 2016, is only the last album by the original  Santana band - the one that disintegrated after III was released - it's not hall-of-fame guitarist Carlos Santana's last studio record. These sixteen compositions were recorded by a group who last worked together way back in 1971, forty-five years before IV was released. They were the outfit that hit the charts with classics like "Evil Ways," "Black Magic Woman," and "No One To Depend On." The sessions were born out of Neal Schon's suggestion that he and Santana work together again. Not only was the great guitarist receptive to the idea, he suggested that they get the old band back together. Santana plays guitar along with Schon, and both men sing. Organist Gregg Rolie is the lead vocalist. Drummer Michael Shrieve worked in tandem with Michael Carabello who played congas and percussion. Original timbale player...

My all-time favorite guitar solo was discussed here a long time ago. It's Terry Kath's truly exciting performance from the album version of Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4." I love it like no other electric guitar performance I've ever heard. 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 attribute could also be the reason for a song's existence instead of simply being in service to one. It could be tasteful, delicate and tuneful. ...

Unique is a unique word and it's commonly misused. It means one of a kind, so when people say "very unique" or "most unique" the word is improperly employed. However, if an additional superlative was ever needed to describe an album of music it would apply to Santana's outstanding second LP, Abraxas , released in the fall of 1970. With deep apologies to Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, Richie Valens, and every other Santana record ever made this album has to rank as THE single greatest Latino-rock release of all time. It's also one of the greatest rock albums recorded by anyone, anywhere, anytime. In hard rocking 1970 this platter didn't just blast away at you. It's colorful and often intricate arrangements fused rock, salsa, and jazz together and was presided over by nominal leader, Carlos Santana, who quickly became one of the best rock soloists on the scene. Santana didn't just jam. He played melodies too and the group's percussi...