Review of Santana - Lotus

Santana is the name of a band that successfully married elements of blues-rock and Latin music, enjoying international acclaim for more than three decades. It is also the name of the guitarist Carlos Santana, who has led the band over that same period of time. 

Lotus was recorded in a dormant volcano outside of Osaka, Japan and captures the band exploring musical territory previously unclaimed by anyone in pop rock. The album is quite simply Carlos Santana's greatest musical vision fully realized. This record combines the group's jazz and spiritual interests with performances of earlier Latin rock favorites like "Oye Como Va" and "Black Magic Woman." The rest of the album leans more towards lengthy instrumentals such as "Every Step Of The Way" and "Incident At Neshabur." 

With the only remnants of the original Santana band, Mike Shreve (drums) and Carlos Santana (guitar), the new Santana band, as they were called, took the opportunity to push the music into the jazz-fusion realm. New members Tom Coster and Richard Kermode on dueling keyboards and Doug Rauch on bass all had extensive jazz backgrounds. In addition to the jazz influences, there was also a new blues sound courtesy of Leon Thomas, a smooth voiced vocalist who had previously worked with Farrow Sanders. 

This mid-70's fusion masterpiece, released only in Japan, is essential listening for any fan (casual, or otherwise) of Santana.

Released Date: 1990
Sony Records
Japan

Disc One:
Going Home
A-1 Funk
Every Step Of The Way
Black Magic Woman
Gypsy Queen
Oye Como Va
Yours Is The Light
Batuka
Xibaba
Stone Flower (Introduction)
Waiting
Castillos De Arena, Part 1 (Sand Castle)
Free Angela
Samba De Sausalito

Disc Two:
Mantra
Kyoto
Castillos De Arena, Part 2 (Sand Castle)
Incident At Neshabur
Se A Cabo
Samba Pa Ti
Mr. Udo
Toussaint L'Overture

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