Santana is Sin Fonteras in mariachi
I was reminded of Santana’s most recent album, Sentient, last night at the third concert of the Mariachi Real Axixic’s 10th anniversary Gala, which included a Santana Medley by Chris Cuevas, one of the mariachi’s guitarists who is also a prize-winning electric guitarist. He took second place in the Mexico City regional competition, the Santana Sauena, held every year in Santana’s hometown, Autlan de Navarro, during its annual Carlos Santana music festival, and I wondered why he just didn’t win the whole thing; he is that good.
Cuevas had the entire auditorium of Mexican and Expats singing “Oye Como Va” as he deftly blended Santana with mariachi. Check out the video from his 2023 concert with the mariachi and see a new perspective on Santana and Tito Puente’s 1962 song, which became a global hit in 1971 as a single from Santana’s Abraxas album.
Here we are 55 years later, and “Oye Como Va” still gets all ages and nationalities dancing. Santana’s most recent album, Sentient, is kind of a retrospective, but with new territory. As a retrospective, it works just fine; as a listening experience, it is a stairway to heaven.
Released last year, it assembles 11 tracks from different points in his career framed to create a unified, guitar-centered listening experience. Three tracks were previously unreleased, and they fit snugly with the remasters.
In familiar territory are the remastered songs:
“Let the Guitar Play (Radio Version)” featuring Darryl “DMC” McDaniels — a 2021 reworking of “Song for Cindy.” A peace song rap with glorious guitar riffs.
“Whatever Happens” with Michael Jackson — originally from Jackson’s 2001 Invincible. The guitar screams, but I would have liked a little more of it.
“Get On (Sentient Version)” with Miles Davis and Paolo Rustichelli — remix/rework of a track from Rustichelli’s 1996 Mystic Moves, along gently with a Latin beat and riffs echoing “Oye Como Va”.
“Vers Le Soleil (Sentient Version)” . Another of the four Paolo Rustichelli remixes from Mystic Man. A gentle trip both in the rhythm and the guitar. It pulls you along like a lazy river.
“Rastafario (Sentient Version)” A Paolo Rustichelli remix from the Mystic Man, this time with Miles Davis. Slow jazz; the guitar is backgrounded, letting the horn lead.
“Full Moon (Sentient Version)” with Paolo Rustichelli — the fourth Rustichelli track remixed for Sentient. Slow Latin jazz with the guitar a line of subdued color flowing through a Latin background. Another lazy river song.
“I’ll Be Waiting” — from Santana’s 1977 live album Moonflower, it rocks softly but wails in places. Santana sings, plays the guitar, and handles percussion.
“Blues for Salvador” . Pure guitar blues with Chester Thompson on the keyboards. Santana’s guitar s a living thing, as only he can do, making it howl, and talk, and cry, and beckon you.
The previously unreleased tracks fit perfectly, making this a truly unified album something I don’t hear much anymore):
“Please Don’t Take Your Love” An unreleased alternate take of a song first heard on Smokey Robinson’s 2009 album Time Flies When You’re Having Fun. My favorite song in the album with vocals. The way Robinson’s voice weaves in and out and through the guitar is mesmerizing.
Stranger in Moscow (Live)” — an instrumental Santana performance of the Michael Jackson song, recorded in 2007 with Narada Michael Walden’s band, but essentially a vehicle for Santana’s guitar.
“Coherence” with Cindy Blackman Santana. A new Carlos-and-Cindy performance that shows off her chops as a prominent jazz drummer and singer, and of course, her husband’s guitar. This one moves you along and grabs you with the wailing, singing guitar. It’s an earworm for sure.
I don’t know if audiences 55 years from now will be singing any of the new songs on the album or if mariachis will be playing them, but for the time being, each of them will stick in your mind, and you may be humming them for quite some time.
Patrick O’Heffernan
Banner: Chris Ceuvas with Marichi Real Axixic. PatrickO’Heffernan
