The Ups and Downs of Carlos Santana
Part Three: Welcome
First Appeared at The Music Box, January 2004, Volume 11, #1
Written by John Metzger
Santana
Welcome
(Columbia/Legacy)
A month after the completion of Love Devotion Surrender, Carlos
Santana went back into the studio to begin work on Welcome, which wound
up being his second album of 1973. Backed by The New Santana Band — featuring
percussionist Armando Peraza, timbale player Jose Areas, drummer Michael Shrieve,
bass player Doug Rauch, keyboard players Tom Coster and Richard Kermode, and
newly added vocalist Leon Thomas (Count Basie, Pharoah Sanders, Rahsaan Roland
Kirk) — Santana takes the jazz-fusion sound that he explored with John McLaughlin on Love Devotion Surrender and fully makes it his own. Once
again, the influence of John Coltrane is present, drifting through everything
from the Alice Coltrane-arranged Going Home that begins to the collection
to the late saxophonist’s composition that concludes it. Unfortunately, the
smooth, soulful vocals of Thomas, as well as the music that supports them, sound
dated. Although the percussionists keep the grooves percolating, it’s only the
full-fledged jazz excursion Mother Africa, a masterful reunion with John
McLaughlin on Flame-Sky, and the sterling grace of the title track that
truly succeed. Still, there’s something to be said for Santana’s heavily emotive
guitar style, which sings beautifully no matter in what context it is placed. A
single bonus track is included on Welcome: the previously unreleased
Mantra, an hypnotic affair that helps make up for the duller moments on this
set. 
Of Further Interest...
Santana - Love Devotion Surrender
Welcome is available from Barnes & Noble.
To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2003 The Music Box