(Devadip) Carlos Santana: Song for My Brother

Track

Song for My Brother

Artist

Carlos Santana (guitar)

CD

The Swing of Delight (Columbia CK 36590)

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Musicians:

Carlos Santana (guitar), Herbie Hancock (keyboards), Harvey Mason (drums),

Russell Tubbs (tenor sax), David Masrgen (bass), Armando Peraza, Raul Rekow (congas and percussion), Orestes Vilato (percussion)

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Composed by Carlos Santana

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Recorded: San Francisco, CA, 1980

Albumcoverdevadipcarlossantana-theswingofdelight

Rating: 87/100 (learn more)

Some Santana detractors claim he has been playing the same guitar solo over and over for 30 years. I can understand that from a purely technical viewpoint. But I would argue that he has placed that solo in different contexts and, because of that, its character changes. I am a jazz fan anyway, so I pay about 1000 times more attention to his jazz-rock work.

In any case, on his fusion forays Santana has always surrounded himself with fantastic players. On "Song for My Brother," you get to listen to Herbie Hancock, Harvey Mason and the underrated horn player Russell Tubbs. Santana sounds perfectly at home in this mix. Perhaps this is because he doesn't compete. Sure, this tune's melody is not a fusion minefield. It is based on a simple but uplifting riff that is enjoyable to listen to and probably pretty easy for all these guys to play. Virtuosity is a good thing to have, but isn't always the most important element to good music. Feeling is just as important, and Santana has that. If he has kept refining it over the last 30 years, that's OK with me.

Reviewer: Walter Kolosky

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  • 1 Phillip Andrews // Dec 04, 2008 at 04:22 AM
    As wayne shorter would say of Carlos' playing, "its new but completely familiar".
  • 2 Mike F // Dec 15, 2008 at 04:50 AM
    One of my all time favorites