Phil's stuff

(First published on Posterous April 2010)

There are some Santana records that count amongst my very favourites (Lotus, Welcome, Caravanserai, Abraxas, Illuminations) and some that I wouldn’t recommend at all. I feel Carlos benefited greatly from having the right kind of creative personnel surrounding him and, from the 80s on, Santana was less likely to surround himself with musicians that pushed him and contexts that challenged him. He also has a tendency to showboat and to play the same solos but his expressive melody playing is still very fine indeed.

Carlos grew up playing Mariachi violin and later blues guitar.Those two influences infuse his work as do his realisation in San Francisco that combining afro-cuban music and rock was a fertile environment. Add Carlos' spiritual searches and his forays into jazz and soul influenced work and you have the potential for great music. The tragedy of the record label/music industry working method however is that Carlos was persuaded from such ventures by the companies in favour of producing records that aimed at an AOR rock audience with excitement and creativity washed out of them.

The recent comeback records featuring all-star casts (Supernatural on) do feature a few decent tunes and decent bands (John McLaughlin and Dennis Chambers regularly play with Carlos live) but sound more like concepts put together by the record companies than creative endeavours.

The recommended:

Abraxas (1970)

One of the greatest rock albums ever. Santana made the breakthrough at Woodstock thanks to the vision of Bill Graham and with their debut album which has its moments but this album has so much more to offer then the first. There are hints of the jazz expansiveness to come, fabulous tunes and the great decision to cover Oye Como Va (which Carlos saw as another Louie Louie). There is a dark mystery to this record - it’s not music created to any formula or genre, simple music that was true to itself.

Santana III (1971)

So much creative tension here. Neil Schon has been added on second guitar - two guitarists with egos here! Schon has claimed to have played most of the lead guitar on these sessions but it is easy for the listener to distinguish the two styles. Schon was a teenager and plays with a youthful energy, mostly fast pentatonic lines with use of effects. The influence of drugs and arguments is all over this record but the music produced is surprisingly vital. There is a lovely afro-cuban feel to many of the tracks.

Live at the Fillmore West (1971 - released 2006 on Santana III Legacy Edition)

Distributed with the third album as part of the Legacy Edition 2006, this is exciting music. My favourite moment is when the crowd roar their approval at the opening strains of Miles Davis’ In a Silent Way. David Brown, Michael Shrieve and the percussionists make for a powerful rhythm section.

Caravanserai (1972)

One of the great records, at the same time a document of a band falling apart and a new one emerging. There was a huge schism in the band between Gregg Rolie and Neil Schon’s desire to make more radio friendly rock records (as they went on to do with Journey) and Santana and Shrieve’s desire to explore a fusion with jazz. Michael Shrieve had influenced Carlos, opening him up to Miles Davis and John Coltrane’s music as well as the contemporary fusions of Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report and Return to Forever. The record saw the introduction of bassist Doug Rauch, an inspiring, creative bassist with a love of fusion and funk who helped the rhythm section develop a more experimental, fluid feel.

Welcome (1973)

Many jazzers favourite Santana record. The keyboard team of Tom Coster (later founding Vital Information) and Richard Kermode blended jazz, fusion, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian flavours the perfection. There is an influence from Airto and Flora (who appear on the record) as well as Alice Coltrane. Rauch plays brillinatly (as does Shrieve) and the lyrics reflect Santana’s spiritual concerns but manage to do so sounding universal rather than earnest. Leon Thomas is a welcome addition on vocals and McLaughlin guests on guitar

Love Devotion Surrender (with John McLaughlin) (1973)

John McLaughlin and Carlos’ joint record - a tribute to John Coltrane and to Sri Chnimoy, their guru at the time. Intense fusion, Doug Rauch, Billy Cobham, Larry Young, Armando Peraza, Jan Hammer - you can’t go wrong with these guys.

Lotus (1974)

Blazingly good live triple album recorded in Japan (now a double CD). Santana is in love with his echoplex. The dual keyboards are fabulous and hint at Miles’ 70s experiments. The rhythm section alternates between power Latin and intense funk. In many ways, this record prefigures the feel of Miles Davis’ Agharta band. There is real improvisation here and dense musical textures and a great sense of mystery and a thunderingly great band in action. Thanks to @philritchie for the correction!

Borboletta (1974)

For me does not quite reach the heights of Welcome and Lotus (perhaps as Rauch has now left the band). It is one of Carlos’ most jazz influenced records and the influence of Flora and Airto is all over the record. Leon Patilo adds some soulful vocals, though some of the lyrics don’t quite work for me. Stanley Clarke plays some great bass on one track, otherwise David Brown returns. Tom Coster is in fine form on keyboards.

Illuminations (with Alice Coltrane) (1974)

This is a wonderful instrumental jazz record with plenty of nods to the avant-garde and moments of intensity and transcendence. It’s about as far from Santana’s 80s rock records as imaginable. Highly recommended. Jules Broussard, Jack de Johnette and Dave Holland play wondefully.

Amigos (1976)

Is angled more towards the mainstream with a funk undercurrent, especially with Leon Ndugu Chancler on drums and Byron Miller on bass on some tracks.

Probably the most Latin themed of Santana’s records. There is some wonderful percussion and some of the tunes show an Al Green influence. Leon Patilo sings well. There is a tribute to Brazilian singer Elis Regina on "Verao Vermelho.“ The River is a heartfelt Gospel ballad and contrasts with the funk and Afro-Cuban rhythms on display.

Moonflower (1977)

Highly rated set which has a combination of live and studio material. I’m not entirely convinced by the feel of the rhythm section but there is plenty of jazz-fusion here and incendiary keyboard playing by Coster. Greg Walker has joined on vocals at this point.

The Swing of Delight (1980)

Fine record. Carlos in the world of jazz. Wayne Shorter, Russell Tubbs, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams and Ron Carter as well as fusion cuts with Santana’s rhythm section. It’s not as out and out burning jazz as the line-up would imply however but it is good to hear Carlos in this context.

Milagro (1992)

This stands head and shoulders above the other records by the 80/90ss Santana band. This may partly be due to it being a tribute to Bill Graham. Where some of the 80s records sound put together by a team of record executives, this one comes across as heartfelt. It has Coltrane and Davis samples, Marley influenced reggae, a great Afro-Cuban track and some burning fusion.

Santana Shorter Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival (2007 recorded 1988)

Recorded in 1988, we waited 19 years for this to finally be released. This is symptomatic of the way the record industry has treated Carlos: sit on the creative and exciting stuff and push the shallow dross. Wayne Shorter and Carlos put this and together and they toured for a while. It’s a great band featuring Alphonso Johnson, Ndugu Chancler, Patrice Rushen, Chester Thompson, Armando Perazo and Chepito Areas. Exciting stuff. Also available on DVD.

Also with some good moments:

Santana (1969), Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles! Live! (1972), Oneness: Silver Dreams, Golden Reality (1979), Havana Moon (1983), Blues for Salvador (1987), Freedom (1987), Sacred Fire - Live in South America (1993), Supernatural (1999)

Spotify playlist

Santana – Abraxas

Santana – Santana (III)

Santana – In A Silent Way

Santana – Caravanserai

Santana – Welcome

Santana – Love Devotion Surrender

Santana – LOTUS

Santana – Borboletta

Bill Laswell – Carlos Santana : Divine Light Illuminations remixed by Bill Laswell

Santana – Amigos

Santana – Festival