BPD member BThere checks in:
Santana and his high-energy 10-piece band put on a spectacle only a tad smaller than a World Cup festivity.That about sums it up..............onstage with Santana, huh? You be livin'!
Dubbed the Universal Tone tour, Santana and his seasoned 10-piece band featuring horns, keyboards and percussions were passionate throughout despite the majority of fans preferring to dance while on their asses. Beginning the nearly two-hour show with '(Da Le) Yaleo' – an enticing Latin party-starter – Santana told the crowd how this night felt different from previous gigs here “in an uplifting way.”
And it was that theme of love which was consistent throughout, even perhaps at the cost of a song when Santana rambled on following the solid 'Oye Como Va.' However, considering he just proposed to girlfriend Cindy Blackman, it’s understandable how the subject was definitely on his mind. While I was in the back speaking with her, Santana brought out Blackman and kissed her. She dragged me out with her; I stood there like a dummy. But what the hell...............I was on stage with Santana!!
Thankfully, Santana let his fingers do the talking most of the night, whether it was on the infectious 'Foo Foo' that had singers Tony Lindsay and Andy Vargas briefly getting the crowd to its feet or the equally strong 'Maria Maria.'
Part of what works for Santana though is his way of steering the musical ship, routinely letting his band shine on solos but then lending a hand in his own unique way. Such was the case following 'Corazon Espinado,' which had percussionist Raul Rekow show his chops (and bandaged fingers) before drummer Dennis Chambers did part one of his solo, toweled off while working his drum pedals and then wrapped things up frantically.
As for his own guitar solos, Santana was front and centre during 'Jingo' as images of African sunsets and dancing was displayed on the video backdrop. But he saved his best for 'Black Magic Woman,' which segued into 'Gypsy Queen' and especially for a cover of Cream’s 'Sunshine Of Your Love,' putting his own spin on Eric Clapton’s signature riffs.
If the whole vibe of peace and love wasn’t apparent by the time 'Smooth' was performed, Santana’s sweaty “Woodstock Festival” t-shirt gave way to video from his legendary 1969 set while he performed the encore.
The Mexican guitar legend, who made his major concert debut at Woodstock in 1969, continues to reinvent his music, even after 40-years, most recently as an urban Latino hip hop and jazz fusionist with his 1999 album Supernatural.
The result is that he's as hot with Generation X, Y & Z fans as he is with the baby-boomers. There is an alchemy to Santana's signature fusion of rock, Latin, R&B and jazz that's unlike anything else you'll hear in rock. Alternating from electric to acoustic and flamenco guitars on Foo Foo, Corozon Espinado and Jingo, Santana glowed as he watched tens of thousands of fans, inside and outside the gates, break into spontaneous dancing. He did a much-appreciated set of old tunes that channelled his psychedelic side, including Oye Como Va, Evil Ways, a cover of John Coltrane's Love Supreme, followed by a hard-driving cover of Cream's Sunshine of Your Love.
There was also Soul Sacrifice, Into The Night and Love, Peace & Happiness to close the show.
All I can say is WOW!!
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