Santana IV Reunites Legendary Band Lineup
1/21/2016

two tracks with Ronald Isley on vocals!! This is gonna be great!

SANTANA IV Reunites Legendary Band LineupFirst Single "Anywhere You Want To Go" to be released February 5, 2016

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- April 15, 2016 marks the release date of Santana IV, the wildly anticipated studio album that reunites the revered early '70s lineup of guitar icon Carlos Santana (guitar, vocals), Gregg Rolie (keyboards, lead vocals), Neal Schon (guitar, vocals), Michael Carabello (percussion) and Michael Shrieve (drums). The album signifies the first time in 45 years – since 1971's multi-platinum classic Santana III – that the quintet has recorded together.

Santana IV features 16 all-new tracks written and produced by the band that burst with the same unparalleled energy and superlative musicianship that made Santana a pioneering force in world music and a household name across the globe. Joining the core Santana IV band in the studio are current Santana members Karl Perazzo (percussion) and Benny Rietveld (bass), with the legendary vocalist Ronald Isleyguesting on two cuts.

The origins for the reunion go back several years, when Schon suggested that he and Carlos Santana record together. Santana liked the idea but went one better, proposing that they recruit Rolie, Shrieve and Carabello for what would be called Santana IV. After initial writing sessions and rehearsals took place in 2013, the group recorded throughout 2014 and 2015, amassing 16 spellbinding tracks that combined all their signature elements – Afro-Latin rhythms, soaring vocals, electrifying blues-psychedelic guitar solos, and irrepressibly jubilant percussion work – with widescreen hooks and melodies that will lodge themselves in the thicket of listeners' senses and stay there.

"It was magical," Santana says. "We didn't have to try to force the vibe – it was immense. From there, we then needed to come up with a balance of songs and jams that people would immediately identify as Santana."

The band's signature sound arrives forcefully on the album opener "Yambu," a righteously gritty and soulful stomper teeming with swirling B3 organ hooks and walloping guitar crunch.

The first single, "Anywhere You Want to Go," is destined to storm the pantheon of Santana classics. Written by Gregg Rolie, it's a sexy, body-shaking winner and an unmistakable tip of the hat to the inescapable cha-cha/Latin jazz charms of "Oye Como Va."

Ronald Isley (The Isley Brothers) is a special guest on two tracks. His vocals highlight the feverishly impassioned Latin-rock workout "Love Makes the World Go Round" and the hard-edged and funky "Freedom in Your Mind." Guitar fans expecting fireworks from Santana and Schon will cherish Santana IV from front to back. "All Aboard" is a no-holds-barred guitar jam of the highest order, as is the slinky, soulful metal cruncher "Caminando," which explodes with tectonic axe force. And on the unabashedly British blues-tinged "Shake It," the two go toe to toe on not one but two extended solo runs that will have lovers of unhinged fretboard work rejoicing.

"Carlos and I feel more connected than ever," says Schon. "We get super-aggressive when we play, but also melodic and poetic. We have an incredible dialog with each other on our guitars."

Santana's recurring themes of love and tolerance are common threads throughout Santana IV, most dramatically on the epic tone poem album closer "Forgiveness," a languid and breathtakingly gorgeous atmospheric groover.

Music fans familiar with the "roaring lion" artwork on Santana's 1969 debut album will instantly greet Heather Griffin-Vine's graphic for Santana IV as a gloriously realized update of that iconic image. "I really think the music goes along with the cover, and vice versa," says Santana. "It all fits together beautifully."

Few bands can pick up a musical dialog after 45 years apart, but on Santana IV each band member reaches a new level of virtuosity and communal intuition on a collection of songs that easily stands side-by-side with the group's treasured early work.

"When you can go back and break new ground with joy and determination – and some whoop-ass energy – it gets you going," says Santana. "I think we achieved something very rare. This music was screaming to come out of us. It wasn't about nostalgia. It was about passion."

Santana IV will be released on April 15, 2016, on Santana IV Records and is distributed by Thirty Tigers/RED Distribution. It will be available for pre-order on Amazon. For the CD click here, and for the LP click here. The album will be CD, Double 180 Gram Vinyl with Download Card and Digital configurations.

As a special offer for fans attending select shows on Santana's upcoming Luminosity tour, a CD copy of SANTANA IV is included with every pair of tickets. This offer will be redeemed via a promo code at MusicRedemptions.com.

I'm ecstatic

So happy to hear this will be released in April. Can't wait! It's going to be awesome!

SoulAlive said:

I already pre-ordered my copy the CD and the 2-LP vinyl!

Here's a 2013 story about Carlos finding his early percussionist Marcus Malone

2014 update

Santana Announce Release Date for ‘Magical’ Reunion Album

By Nick DeRiso

Santana III (released in 1971) is quite possibly,the best Santana album of all.So I'm really thrilled about the new album,which is conceived as the real "follow up" to that masterpiece.

They’ve named the album Santana IV because it’s designed as a follow-up to 1971’s Santana III, which featured the same lineup

I'm incredibly psyched about this new album. Thanks for the details!

If this album is any good it'll be the first one since Santana III. The last several Santana records have been worse than bad. Rob Thomas? Michelle Branch? Those barely qualify as songs. I hope this one is good.

This new album only has one 'guest star' and it's a credible one: Ronald Isley.I'm happy about that

In other Santana news,he's getting ready to kick off his 2016 'Luminosity' tour and there will be some dates with Journey,too.

Luminosity Tour

02/26/16 -- Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Dubai Media City Amphitheatre (Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival)

02/29/16 -- Bangkok, Thailand -- Impact Arena

03/3/16 -- Honolulu, HI -- Blaisdell Arena

03/5/16 -- Kahului, HI -- Maui Arts & Cultural Center

04/5/16 -- Washington, DC -- Warner Theatre

04/6/16 -- Washington, DC -- Warner Theatre

04/7/16 -- Verona, NY -- Turning Stone Resort Casino

04/9/16 -- Upper Darby, PA -- Tower Theatre

04/18/16 -- Quebec City, QC -- Centre Videotron

04/19/16 -- Montreal, QC -- Bell Centre

04/21/16 -- Kingston, ON -- Rogers K-Rock Centre

04/22/16 -- Rama, ON -- Casino Rama

04/23/16 -- Windsor, ON -- Caesars Colosseum

Not much on the U.S. front...

Journey and Santana
Wednesday, April 13 | 7PM

Journey and Santana will perform at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, April 13.

INSIDER PRESALE | Today, Friday, January 29 from 10AM to 10PM
Use Code: NEAL
PUBLIC ON SALE | Saturday, January 30 at 10AM

World Premiere: first single "Anywhere You Want To Go"

Listen to Santana - 'Anyw...ajic 105.7

SoulAlive said:

Empress said:

The New SANTANA single "Anywhere You Want To Go" Debuted at #1 On Rock Radio !!!!
Congrats to all my brothers 📀💿 Gold and Platinum on the horizon---Neal Schon

"Blues Magic" from the new album