Review: Carlos Santana ‘Sentient’

Review: Carlos Santana ‘Sentient’

By Charlie Steffens

Carlos Santana’s new release, ‘Sentient,’ is a pared-down retrospective of the acclaimed guitarist’s career, made up of eleven tracks, three of which were previously unreleased. ‘Sentient’ is a bold project, given that its recordings were culled from his archives, which he said were a collection of tracks he had “floating around his house.” After a few listens it is easy to hear just how well Santana is able to venture out and make remarkable music with just about any artist, not just the players in his band. Regarding the album title, Santana explains: “It’s someone who’s evolved and has graduated from the animal…or it’s like a Christmas tree and all the ornaments are the attributes a sentient man has: gratitude, patience, humility, generosity, and consideration.”

Included in the ‘Sentient’ roster is another legend–singer, songwriter, and producer Smokey Robinson. Robinson enlisted Santana to play on the renowned Motown artist’s “Please Don’t Take Your Love,” a sultry Latin jazz-infused song featured on 2009’s ‘Time Flies When Your Fun’ album. According to Santana, this reimagined version of the song is the first take from the in-studio sessions with Robinson and has a never-before-heard guitar performance.

Reaching back to 1977 “I’ll Be Waiting,” from the “Moonflower” album, features singer Greg Walker, who was arguably the quintessential voice for Santana (the band). Santana describes “…the sound of the guitar, and the singer, sound like a hug—a very personal, intimate hug.” And that is an apt description to anyone who hears it.

A notable inclusion is Santana’s live instrumental take on “Stranger in Moscow,” a mid-90s Michael Jackson ballad. The track, recorded in 2007, captures Santana performing with renowned drummer/producer Narada Michael Walden and his band at a small club in New York City. As Santana describes it: “Narada knew that I loved the song, so he arranged it with his band. I showed up and played it with no rehearsal.’ Santana’s phrasing and tone mimics Jackson’s vocals, making this a unique interpretation of the song. “Whatever Happens,” a Jackson/Santana collaboration from Jackson’s final studio album, ‘Invincible,’ follows, serving as a double tribute to the “King of Pop.”

And speaking of kings, the track “Blues for Salvador”, notable for winning Santana his first Grammy in 1989, is a spiritual love poem to his son. It represents his lifetime of learning the blues from the Kings—B.B., Freddie, and Albert. Other influences that thread through this song include Buddy Guy and Otis Rush, and Chester D. Thompson’s slow-tempo synth floats quietly, providing the foundation for Santana’s healing guitar.

From his breakthrough performance at Woodstock in1969 up to the present day, his sublime collaborations with artists of different musical genres and the extraordinary guitar performances on this album will appeal to Santanaphiles and those who are as of yet uninitiated. Over his enduring and celebrated career, Santana has generously worked with an array of musicians from different genres including rock, jazz, funk, blues. This album showcases that gift of diversity.

Hey Carlos, what else have you got in your vault?

“Please Don’t Take Your Love”

 
Carlos Santana website