CARLOS SANTANA & ALICE COLTRANE: ILLUMINATIONS

This is beautiful album made in collaboration with Alice Coltrane and inspired by the then Carlos' spiritual association with Sri Chinmoy. Alice's orchestral string arrangements and harp add a romantic feel to this album, which can be described as a symphonic-jazz fusion. Upright bass, various percussion (but hardly any drums!) and occasional acoustic moments provide a pleasant and enjoying listen. Carlos' solo parts are excellent as always, but they are not excessive like on some SANTANA band rock albums. There are of course oriental spices in the music often similar to those LEB I SOL used on their phenomenal second album.

Illuminations, apart from silly and naive cover painting with angels, is one of the best fusion albums I heard.

PERSONAL RATING: 4,5/5

P.A. RATING: 5/5