Santana provides partylike atmosphere at the Fox

BY KEVIN C. JOHNSON • Post-Dispatch Pop Music Critic > kjohnson@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8191 | Posted: Wednesday, September 7, 2011 12:25 pm

"Supernatural" was a bit of a blessing and a curse for Carlos Santana.

The 1999 album's place in music history is solid, with its many millions in sales; a Grammy night sweep including album of the year; an all-star lineup with Rob Thomas, Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill and Dave Matthews, and a younger generation of fans for the guitarist.

Even since then, Santana has tried, with mixed results, to duplicate that success, stockpiling albums "Shaman" (2002), "All That I Am" (2005) and last year's "Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Classics of All Time" with big names of the day.

But all we really need is Santana.

He showed off his star quality when he returned to the Fox Theatre Tuesday night for what amounted to a huge Afro-Cuban/Latin dance party, the kind only a band like Santana can provide, for more than 4,000 fans.

The two hour-plus concert, part of Santana's Sound of Collective Consciousness tour, started at a fever pitch with an introduction that sounded more like a finale and never let up from there.

How could it with the glorious musicianship Santana brought to the table, beginning with his unmistakable piercing guitar riffs.

Santana, dressed in white save for a wine-colored vest, led a fine group of players, all given room to breathe and flex throughout the evening, including drummer Cindy Blackman and conga player Raul Rekow.

They tackled the expected array of material - "Evil Ways," "Black Magic Woman," and "Oye Como Va" - classics that continued to pop.

Videos of tribal African dancers accented the rhythmic "Jingo," which delved into a bit of Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Something." Several songs would temporarily detour this way, meshing Santana's music with others' well-known material.

A pair of male singers filled in on songs originally recorded with big names, like Thomas on "Smooth" from "Supernatural." The stars weren't missed.

"Maria, Maria," another "Supernatural" song, was dedicated to the women in the audience. He said when women are happy, the economy noticeably improves.

Santana preached just a bit, stressing the importance of investing in education over investing in the Pentagon, and calling for "weapons of mass compassion." Addressing those who may not care to hear him take on issues, he said, "I can't just smile and play guitar."

In a nod to two music legends of the St. Louis area, Santana gave shoutouts to Chuck Berry and Miles Davis. He said now that there's a new statue of Berry, there needs to be an even bigger one of Davis.

Franti and Spearhead, who joined Santana during the main set, proved to be a more than fitting support act. "Hey Hey Hey" and "I'll Be Waiting" were among the songs the barefoot Franti happily performed everywhere from the aisles to the balcony, before eventually allowing a few dozen fans onstage to dance. Big yellow balloons were bounced around during "The Sound of Sunshine," creating a party atmosphere.

I need to see them when they come to my area..... lemme google and find out. LOVE LOVE LOVE Santana!!!

I'm seeing Santana in concert on September 24th

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[Edited 9/8/11 0:20am]

After the tour winds down, Santana reports that he has no fewer than "five-to-seven" recording projects -- either in the planning stages or in the works -- that will keep him busy. Among them are albums with his son Salvador and his wife, Cindy Blackman Santana, who's also Santana's drummer. Carlos also is hoping to put together an eclectic-sounding collaboration with jazz/prog-rock guitarist John McLaughlin, blues-rock icon Jeff Beck and country legend Willie Nelson that he describes as "funky swamp music from Africa. First up, though, will be Shape Shifter, an all-instrumental effort with "no guests and no vocals" that Santana he says "should be out by October [or] November.

bobbyperu said:

It's been a while since I saw Santana... I always wondered why he didn't play with Prince on Supernatural or Rave since both albums were made together with Clive Davis.... Bytheway,I'll always remember Cindy Blackman as Lenny Kravitz' drummer looking like this:

I LOVE Santana and have only seen Prince more times live. I never miss him when he comes to Chicago. Unfortunately, this year he did not come here. However, my sister and I usually make what we call our annual summer pilgrimage to Santana every July/August.

I love the footage of African dancers that plays with Jingo. It is real spiritually moving moment.

BTW Cindy Blackman is Santana's wife. He proposed to her last summer at the Chicago concert. They got married a few months later.

SoulAlive said:

After the tour winds down, Santana reports that he has no fewer than "five-to-seven" recording projects -- either in the planning stages or in the works -- that will keep him busy. Among them are albums with his son Salvador and his wife, Cindy Blackman Santana, who's also Santana's drummer. Carlos also is hoping to put together an eclectic-sounding collaboration with jazz/prog-rock guitarist John McLaughlin, blues-rock icon Jeff Beck and country legend Willie Nelson that he describes as "funky swamp music from Africa. First up, though, will be Shape Shifter, an all-instrumental effort with "no guests and no vocals" that Santana he says "should be out by October [or] November.

Awesome - thanks for this info. Carlos is amazing!

Empress said:

SoulAlive said:

After the tour winds down, Santana reports that he has no fewer than "five-to-seven" recording projects -- either in the planning stages or in the works -- that will keep him busy. Among them are albums with his son Salvador and his wife, Cindy Blackman Santana, who's also Santana's drummer. Carlos also is hoping to put together an eclectic-sounding collaboration with jazz/prog-rock guitarist John McLaughlin, blues-rock icon Jeff Beck and country legend Willie Nelson that he describes as "funky swamp music from Africa. First up, though, will be Shape Shifter, an all-instrumental effort with "no guests and no vocals" that Santana he says "should be out by October [or] November.

Awesome - thanks for this info. Carlos is amazing!

I'm most excited about Shape Shifter,the all-instrumental album with no guest stars.An album like that is long overdue!

SoulAlive said:

Empress said:

Awesome - thanks for this info. Carlos is amazing!

I'm most excited about Shape Shifter,the all-instrumental album with no guest stars.An album like that is long overdue!

AMEN!!! That is my kind of Santana album!!!

SoulAlive said:

I'm seeing Santana in concert on September 24th

Yeah? I wanna see YOUR review of the show posted here after you do, my man.

Cool that you get to go

JamFanHot said:

SoulAlive said:

I'm seeing Santana in concert on September 24th

Yeah? I wanna see YOUR review of the show posted here after you do, my man.

Cool that you get to go

A good Santana concert should feature many of the songs of his (their?, lol) first three albums (69-71), and then the few pop hits he has released since then. And also a couple of jazz jams for the truly hardcore fans, something off Caravanserai, Welcome or Mirage...

SoulAlive said:

Empress said:

Awesome - thanks for this info. Carlos is amazing!

I'm most excited about Shape Shifter,the all-instrumental album with no guest stars.An album like that is long overdue!

I agree. It should be amazing.

When you hear of the release date, be sure to post it please.

SoulAlive said:

Love the artwork its