SANTANA IV

Recently I stumbled upon this 2-CD/1-DVD box, and got very exited when I read that the line-up on this 2016 'reunion concert' included not only master Carlos Santana but also 'teenage guitar prodigy' Neal Schon: once a Santana band member on the albums III and Caravanserai (shining on the track Every Step Of The Way) and later commercially very successful with 'Steve Perry Journey' (but I am delighted about his awesome and very disctintive guitar sound on Journey their eponymous album). The name Santana IV is based upon the fact that the Santana III line-up disbanded in 1971, and this 2016 Santana band features for the first time since 1971 five members from that era: Carlos Santana, Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Michael Shrieve and Mike Carabello, along Karl Perazzo (timbales in Santana since 1991), bass player Benny Rietveld (ex-Miles Davis), keyboardist David. Mathews (ex- Etta James Band) and guest singer Ronald Isley (from the Isley Brothers).

Listening to the two CD's I conclude that the 1967-1977 decade is unsurpassed: a lot of artistic freedom from the record companies, young full time musicians that were determined to make their own music, sharing fun and misery resulting in timeless compositions and becoming tight units due to the fact that they played so many gigs in those days. These two CD's contain top notch latin rock music featuring many of the Santana classics, performed very inspired and loaded with new ideas and extended soli. Just listen to Carlos Santana who let his guitar howl, scream, cry and thunder. To Gregg Rolie (one of the most underrated Hammond organ masters) with his omnipresent moaning and groaning B-3. And let's not forget the Santana trademark with Michael Carabello on congas and Karl Perazzo on timbales, what a thrill! This Santana IV line-up can compete with every current rock band in the world, what a skills, inspiration and ideas, they blow away the crowd, and the fans love it!

Guest singer Ronald Isley (Carlos Santana was determined to get him on stage) does a good job in the two tracks Love Makes The World Go Round and Freedom In Your Mind. And the new track Suenos (written by Carlos and Rietveld) is very pleasantly in the vein of Europe and Samba Pa Ti. The DVD includes the entire concert and contains a bonus interview with the band.

In the 20-page booklet also attention for The Milagro Foundation, founded by Carlos Santana and his family in 1998 to support vulnerable children around the world in several ways (like education, health and arts). Keep in mind that Carlos Santana was sexually abused by an American almost daily between his 10th and 12th (revealed in the Rolling Stone magazine in 2000, after getting in therapy in 1995, on recommendation by his wife).

Back to the music, for me this 2-CD/1-DVD box set is a very exciting musical experience, a masterpiece stage performance, loaded with unique and timeless compositions, you cannot beg for more so highly recommended!