Santana and Friends
January 13, 2014 8:21 PM Subscribe
We'll never forget Woodstock, of course, but since then, Carlos has made a few friends.....
Santana and Sarah Mclachlan
Santana, Ricky Martin & Jose Feliciano
Santana and Alicia Keys
Santana and Michael Jackson
Santana and George Benson
Santana, Jeff Beck, & Lukather
Santana and Marcus Malone (more)
Santana and Sarah Mclachlan
Santana, Ricky Martin & Jose Feliciano
Santana and Alicia Keys
Santana and Michael Jackson
Santana and George Benson
Santana, Jeff Beck, & Lukather
Santana and Marcus Malone (more)
Let's not forget John McLaughlin!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:01 PM on January 13, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:01 PM on January 13, 2014 [4 favorites]
I went to an Amnesty International concert at the Meadowlands in NJ back in the 80s, and to this day I remember every single act, at some point announced "And now, our special guest Carlos Santana!"
Not complaining, but I remember thinking "DAMN, this guy just does not want to put down his guitar today".
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 9:32 PM on January 13, 2014 [3 favorites]
Not complaining, but I remember thinking "DAMN, this guy just does not want to put down his guitar today".
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 9:32 PM on January 13, 2014 [3 favorites]
"When you guys were playing, I was picturing the audience as this sea of flowers, the music was the water, and you guys were the hose." - Carlos Santana
posted by koeselitz at 10:44 PM on January 13, 2014
posted by koeselitz at 10:44 PM on January 13, 2014
(It's wonderful music, I think – one of the great improvisational bands in top form – but I'll understand if you're not in the mood to wade through all 17 minutes of that Youtube stream. If you'd like to just skip to Carlos' solo, try this link.)
posted by koeselitz at 10:53 PM on January 13, 2014
posted by koeselitz at 10:53 PM on January 13, 2014
Can't find the video, but I heard he's done some stuff with David Miscavige as well...
posted by Joseph Gurl at 12:06 AM on January 14, 2014
posted by Joseph Gurl at 12:06 AM on January 14, 2014
He sat in with The Fabulous Thunderbirds in SF back in about '87 when I was out manning their merch table. I don't remember what they played, but it was pretty fabulous. John Lee Hooker had sat in the night before, in Palo Alto (or Santa Cruise? It's a blur) - it was a great couple of days.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:41 AM on January 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:41 AM on January 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
That woodstock clip is great, I'll never feel self conscious about "guitar face" again
posted by mattoxic at 5:08 AM on January 14, 2014
posted by mattoxic at 5:08 AM on January 14, 2014
In the small group of people who gave really good Woodstock performances.
posted by thelonius at 5:59 AM on January 14, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 5:59 AM on January 14, 2014 [2 favorites]
Yeah, Santana's a hell of a guitarist, and I think all these links really demonstrate how much he loves to perform and how dedicated he is to his craft, and if there's one thing we can all agree on, I think it woulGIVE ME YOUR HEART MAKE IT REAL OR LET'S FORGET ABOUT IT
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 6:05 AM on January 14, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 6:05 AM on January 14, 2014 [7 favorites]
Santana and Rob Thomas
Santana and Michelle Branch
...because Santana's label didn't think Santana and Tina Turner was marketable enough.
posted by The Confessor at 6:11 AM on January 14, 2014 [3 favorites]
Santana and Michelle Branch
...because Santana's label didn't think Santana and Tina Turner was marketable enough.
posted by The Confessor at 6:11 AM on January 14, 2014 [3 favorites]
Yeah, Santana's a hell of a guitarist, and I think all these links really demonstrate how much he loves to perform and how dedicated he is to his craft, and if there's one thing we can all agree on, I think it woulGIVE ME YOUR HEART MAKE IT REAL OR LET'S FORGET ABOUT IT
bada-badap! bada-badada *weooooooooooooo*
posted by dismas at 6:33 AM on January 14, 2014
bada-badap! bada-badada *weooooooooooooo*
posted by dismas at 6:33 AM on January 14, 2014
I think it woulGIVE ME YOUR HEART MAKE IT REAL OR LET'S FORGET ABOUT IT
I always loved this - at the time that "Smooth" was big, MTV or VH1 were doing some funky Peoples' Choice Awards thing, and they actually had a promotion where the people could make up their own award. People proposed awards ideas, and then about a month before the ceremony the network posted the five "finalists" on their site and people could vote to pick their favorite "peoples'-created" award. And then a week before the show they'd announce what the award actually finally was, and put up the candidates for what the winning song would be.
The winner for "newly-created award category" was the "Your Song Kicks Ass But Was Played Too Damn Much" award, and the winning song in that category was "Smooth".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:24 AM on January 14, 2014
I always loved this - at the time that "Smooth" was big, MTV or VH1 were doing some funky Peoples' Choice Awards thing, and they actually had a promotion where the people could make up their own award. People proposed awards ideas, and then about a month before the ceremony the network posted the five "finalists" on their site and people could vote to pick their favorite "peoples'-created" award. And then a week before the show they'd announce what the award actually finally was, and put up the candidates for what the winning song would be.
The winner for "newly-created award category" was the "Your Song Kicks Ass But Was Played Too Damn Much" award, and the winning song in that category was "Smooth".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:24 AM on January 14, 2014
Early 1969, I was a roadie for a SF rock band.
Tuesday nights at the Fillmore West were audition nights for unknown bands. A dollar to get in and the bands didn't get paid but got a shot on the big stage. I went to see some of my friends perform, and they had the bad luck to draw the slot after something called the Santana Blues Band. Interesting, since almost nothing they played fit the definition of "blues."
But they had thunder and the act i saw was essentially the first album, stage ready. I don't know how they put this act together in a garage, because it was fully formed the first time I saw it.
Needless to say, Santana took over the Bay Area scene in a couple of months.
Only two bands ever made it from a Tuesday audition to the headline gig at the Fillmore West. Santana was one, tower of Power was the other.
posted by Repack Rider at 8:35 AM on January 14, 2014 [5 favorites]
Tuesday nights at the Fillmore West were audition nights for unknown bands. A dollar to get in and the bands didn't get paid but got a shot on the big stage. I went to see some of my friends perform, and they had the bad luck to draw the slot after something called the Santana Blues Band. Interesting, since almost nothing they played fit the definition of "blues."
But they had thunder and the act i saw was essentially the first album, stage ready. I don't know how they put this act together in a garage, because it was fully formed the first time I saw it.
Needless to say, Santana took over the Bay Area scene in a couple of months.
Only two bands ever made it from a Tuesday audition to the headline gig at the Fillmore West. Santana was one, tower of Power was the other.
posted by Repack Rider at 8:35 AM on January 14, 2014 [5 favorites]
There were some amazing drum circles in Dolores Park in the late 60's. I've always just figured those percussionists were at the center of them. I can still hear congas echoing around the neighborhood in my head. The percussion on that first album is the thing that has always blown my mind. And while Santana has always been a good soloist, I live listening to his right hand behind the vocals & organ solos. His sense of rhythm with the chords is also pretty damn incredible.
I had a teacher at Mission High School (by '76 it had been re-purposed as a Jr. High) that had had some of the Santana band members in his class as they became famous. They went from being just kids at school to being swarmed with attention & girls, girls, girls pretty much overnight.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:11 AM on January 14, 2014
I had a teacher at Mission High School (by '76 it had been re-purposed as a Jr. High) that had had some of the Santana band members in his class as they became famous. They went from being just kids at school to being swarmed with attention & girls, girls, girls pretty much overnight.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:11 AM on January 14, 2014
The times I've seen Santana (which are maybe half a dozen times since the late 70's), I've found his bands to be frustratingly inconsistent, and as a result I've had a hard time getting into his playing. He's had some good rhythm sections over the years, and some good lead vocalists, but he hasn't always had both of those at the same time. And even though I play guitar myself, I find I get my fill of his playing style after about 45 minutes. Still, I'm happy he's achieved so much late-career success and recognition.
Not exactly a homage: Frank Zappa : Variations on the Carlos Santana secret chord progression.
posted by mosk at 9:12 AM on January 14, 2014
Not exactly a homage: Frank Zappa : Variations on the Carlos Santana secret chord progression.
posted by mosk at 9:12 AM on January 14, 2014
Well, Gregg Rolie had the voice on his early hits, & he left & formed Journey after what, the third Santana album? (We were all shocked, dismayed & saddened when Journey hired that OOh-oh, Ooh-oh guy after their third album.) Rolie is a beast of a player & I don't think Santana ever quite filled those shoes again.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:17 AM on January 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:17 AM on January 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
His sense of rhythm with the chords is also pretty damn incredible.
Oh, God - you've just reminded me of something I saw on the Kennedy Center Honors this year, when they were actually focusing on Herbie Hancock. Snoop Dogg came out to rap over "Cantaloupe Island," which is awesome in its own right - but at some point you can see Santana sitting next to Michelle Obama and they're both clapping along.
But watch how Santana's clapping. It's a whole complicated rhythm thing he's got going on.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:22 AM on January 14, 2014
Oh, God - you've just reminded me of something I saw on the Kennedy Center Honors this year, when they were actually focusing on Herbie Hancock. Snoop Dogg came out to rap over "Cantaloupe Island," which is awesome in its own right - but at some point you can see Santana sitting next to Michelle Obama and they're both clapping along.
But watch how Santana's clapping. It's a whole complicated rhythm thing he's got going on.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:22 AM on January 14, 2014
Carols Santana is one of those musicians who does the same basic thing almost all the time, but it's a thing that people like, and he does it really well.
Gregg Rolie was an effective vocalist and a reasonably capable rock organ player, but for pure keyboard chops, Chester Thompson shreds him pretty badly.
Still, that first version of the Santana band felt like an organic group that really did start in someone's garage, while many of the later touring ensembles have basically been a collection of sidemen, with all the variability that implies.
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 11:36 AM on January 14, 2014
Gregg Rolie was an effective vocalist and a reasonably capable rock organ player, but for pure keyboard chops, Chester Thompson shreds him pretty badly.
Still, that first version of the Santana band felt like an organic group that really did start in someone's garage, while many of the later touring ensembles have basically been a collection of sidemen, with all the variability that implies.
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 11:36 AM on January 14, 2014
Carlos Santana is one of those musicians who does the same basic thing almost all the time, but it's a thing that people like, and he does it really well.
That's a good way to put it. It's also something to remember – for all of us who sit here in 2014 with thousands of world music songs easily available on iTunes – that 45 years ago we didn't have any such thing. People were telling the teenaged Carlos that his Latin-tinged rock and blues would go nowhere, and he shouldn't give up his day job as a dishwasher. He had the courage and desire to pay no attention and – 90 million records later – I guess those people have been proved wrong.
posted by LeLiLo at 4:31 PM on January 14, 2014 [3 favorites]
That's a good way to put it. It's also something to remember – for all of us who sit here in 2014 with thousands of world music songs easily available on iTunes – that 45 years ago we didn't have any such thing. People were telling the teenaged Carlos that his Latin-tinged rock and blues would go nowhere, and he shouldn't give up his day job as a dishwasher. He had the courage and desire to pay no attention and – 90 million records later – I guess those people have been proved wrong.
posted by LeLiLo at 4:31 PM on January 14, 2014 [3 favorites]
When I was in college in the late '70s, I was the biggest Santana fan in the world. Or, at least, New York City. I'd go see the band any time it played in the city and, after a while, I started going to the Sri Chinmoy meditations that would be held in different venues around the city just to see Carlos, who had him for a spiritual master for some years, play a few meditative acoustic numbers.
The second one I went to was held at the chapel at Columbia U., where, conveniently enough, I was going to school. Very hushed, reverent atmosphere. Sri Chinmoy walks onto the altar, sits and begins leading the congregation in meditation. After a bit of this, from altar left, comes a white-clad figure holding an acoustic guitar. Carlos Santana. He does a little bow in the direction of Sri Chinmoy and sits down, maybe on a chair or pillow, plinking an occasional soft note to check his tuning. Then, another figure, similarly clad in white, comes in from the same direction, also holding a guitar. I squint (I'm up in the cheap seats, figuratively speaking) to make out who this is. Then I realize, "OhMyGod, MAHAVISHNU JOHN MCLAUGHLIN!!!" I'm having kittens, my ass is shimmying on the wood bench and I'm frantically looking around to make eye contact with someone, anyone, to exchange a celebratory woo-hoo!
However, as Nicely-Nicely Johnson once observed, "But the passengers, they knew right from wrong." And everyone retained their meditative composure as the two began playing a quiet song.
posted by the sobsister at 5:22 PM on January 14, 2014 [4 favorites]
The second one I went to was held at the chapel at Columbia U., where, conveniently enough, I was going to school. Very hushed, reverent atmosphere. Sri Chinmoy walks onto the altar, sits and begins leading the congregation in meditation. After a bit of this, from altar left, comes a white-clad figure holding an acoustic guitar. Carlos Santana. He does a little bow in the direction of Sri Chinmoy and sits down, maybe on a chair or pillow, plinking an occasional soft note to check his tuning. Then, another figure, similarly clad in white, comes in from the same direction, also holding a guitar. I squint (I'm up in the cheap seats, figuratively speaking) to make out who this is. Then I realize, "OhMyGod, MAHAVISHNU JOHN MCLAUGHLIN!!!" I'm having kittens, my ass is shimmying on the wood bench and I'm frantically looking around to make eye contact with someone, anyone, to exchange a celebratory woo-hoo!
However, as Nicely-Nicely Johnson once observed, "But the passengers, they knew right from wrong." And everyone retained their meditative composure as the two began playing a quiet song.
posted by the sobsister at 5:22 PM on January 14, 2014 [4 favorites]
I read an interview with him once, and something he said about his spiritual concepts really struck me, He said something like "You have everything that you need, right now". I wonder if that is a Sri Chinmoy concept, or if its his interpretation?
posted by thelonius at 6:06 PM on January 14, 2014
posted by thelonius at 6:06 PM on January 14, 2014
He broke with Chinmoy over the guru's homophobia (esp. comments about Billie Jean King, iirc.)
posted by Joseph Gurl at 7:51 PM on January 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Joseph Gurl at 7:51 PM on January 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
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posted by HuronBob at 8:25 PM on January 13, 2014