SAMPLER FROM THE SERPENT

Although this is very short for a promotional CD for a boxed set (eight tracks, under forty minutes), at least the producers selectred the tracks based on Carlos Santana's guitar work, rather than popularity. This is by no means a greatest hits selection, but a good sampling of what can be heard on the complete set.

The only big hit to be found here is Evil Ways. No Oye Como Va, Black Magic Woman, or any other defining hit from the band. After that, the most famous track is Europa, which happens to be one of Santana's best guitar solo songs (although I prefer the live version from "Moonflower").

There are two previously unreleased tracks on this sampler. Sweet Cherry Pie is a mostly vocal track with Larry Graham, but has a very good solo. Every Now And Then is much better. It's a somewhat proggy piece (graced with a section of quintuplets) that features Santana and Vernon Reid trading blistering guitar solos.

The only down track is Open Invitation. This light fusion piece features a very bland arrangement. Santana's solo is not bad, but doesn't lift the composition from it's depths.

As a sampler, it's not bad, but since it's so short, I can only give it three stars.