With the loss of Gregg Rolie, lead singer and organ player since the origin of the band, I wouldn't have thinking that Santana would yet be capable to get quality music, especially after the masterpiece that was Caravanserai.I was so wrong, Santana released four more worthy albums, though none as brilliant as previous efforts with Rolie on board, they are nonetheless highly enjoyable.
After Rolie's departure, Santana would be looking for new members for each new album. On Welcome there's present Leon Thomas on lead vocals, the vocalist of Pharoah Sanders' love and peace jazz "epic", 'The Lord has a Masterplan', highly recommended if you're fond of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme.
Leon Thomas is one really capable singer able to yodel in an impressive way, though in Welcome he simply delivers down-to- earth, soulful vocals that suit Carlos' peaceful land of head of that time. There's also famous Brazilian singer Flora Purim on backup vocals, also adding to the overall peaceful mood.
Welcome is like to Amigos, released three days later, in the way that both are less adventurous and keeps things simpler, though still catchy and master as in their first two albums.
Welcome, however, is a more peaceful record, maybe due of existence the replacement of Caravanserai, a somewhat quieter and meditative album. Though, another divergence is that this time Tom Coster doesn't play lots of his organ, trying to retain Gregg's characteristical organ.
The jazzy touch of its antecessor is also heard here, especially on 'Samba de Sausalito' with nice electric keys, while in 'Love, Devotion & Surrender', 'When I Look Into Your Eyes' and 'Light of Life' you've got the more straightforward latin- inspired style, featuring vocals.
However, the one problem this album has is that nothing seems to be very great, though there's the 11 minute instrumental 'Flame Sky' where Carlos sets his guitar free, it's rather similar and not as big as the solo guitar parts from Caravanserai which were sublime, though still worthwhile.
It's true that Santana would never strive to the magnitudes of Abraxas or Caravanserai again, but if you're a fan, you truly can't miss Welcome nor Borboletta nor Amigos, and often less the excellent Moonflower, the best album post-Rolie in my opinion.
Recommended to Santana fans and fans of generally good peaceful music with heavy guitar soloing and with much of percussion (by The Quiet One).
Samba De Sausalito:
Track List:
01.Going Home (4:10)
02.Love Devotion and Surrender (3:36)
03.Samba De Sausalito (3:10)
04.When I Look Into Your Eyes (5:50)
05.Yours is the Light (5:45)
06.Mother Africa (5:54)
07.Light of Life (3:48)
08.Flame-Sky (11:32)
09.Welcome (6:30)
10. Mantra (6:00 - bonus track)
Santana:
*Leon Thomas: vocals
*James Mingo Lewis: Congas
*Jose 'Chepito' Areas Timbales, congas, percussion
*Carlos Santana: guitars, vocals
*Tom Coster: Keyboards
*Richard Kermode: keyboards
*Michael Shrieve: Drums
*Doug Rauch: Bass
Guests
*John McLaughlin: vocals
*Flora Purim: vocals
*Wendy Haas: vocals
[ Thank you MIF forsending this post ]
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