Seeing Carlos Santana live has been on my Bucket List for years. I finally was able to do it this weekend in Las Vegas.
As those of you who follow Inside The Rock Era know, I have Carlos as the #5 Guitarist of the Rock Era*. After seeing him play last night, there's no way to justify anyone ranking him worse than that. Many of today's guitarists think it's all about speed, but it's about so much m...ore than that. Santana is nothing short of a musical genius, and great guitar playing is about knowledge of music, how the notes sound together, and about a melody (making the guitar sing). To witness his passion for making that guitar sing like it's coming straight from God himself is a blessing. Santana doesn't play an instrument--he IS the instrument. That guitar is part of his body, and he does these amazing things with his eyes closed.
When you consider all of that, plus the fact that Santana plays with emotion and passion that most don't even have, plus his longevity, and the distinctive sound where you can hear his guitar and know instantly that that is Carlos Santana, he is almost without peer. Add to that his great songwriting, and the musicians that he is always able to surround himself with (who wouldn't want to be in his band?!), and you have an incredible live experience. What a privilege to be 15 feet away from him at the House of Blues--one of the two or three best concerts I have ever been fortunate to see.
Carlos was the one that first brought those amazing rhythms to the masses. It's not just about musical talent, although he has it, but his songwriting brought those great Latin sounds to public awareness, first at Woodstock, where fans were blown away by the sound. That alone and his great volume of material, plus being the #3 Guitarist of the Rock Era makes him not only a superstar but a legend. But his Supernatural album introduced this amazing talent to a new generation of people.
Carlos has done great things with his fame, and to tell you what a great person he is, he always donates proceeds to a great cause, last night to vulnerable children around the world. He parted by wishing us three things: good health, peace of mind, and joy. An awesome performance of sensational music made for an unforgettable night.
As those of you who follow Inside The Rock Era know, I have Carlos as the #5 Guitarist of the Rock Era*. After seeing him play last night, there's no way to justify anyone ranking him worse than that. Many of today's guitarists think it's all about speed, but it's about so much m...ore than that. Santana is nothing short of a musical genius, and great guitar playing is about knowledge of music, how the notes sound together, and about a melody (making the guitar sing). To witness his passion for making that guitar sing like it's coming straight from God himself is a blessing. Santana doesn't play an instrument--he IS the instrument. That guitar is part of his body, and he does these amazing things with his eyes closed.
When you consider all of that, plus the fact that Santana plays with emotion and passion that most don't even have, plus his longevity, and the distinctive sound where you can hear his guitar and know instantly that that is Carlos Santana, he is almost without peer. Add to that his great songwriting, and the musicians that he is always able to surround himself with (who wouldn't want to be in his band?!), and you have an incredible live experience. What a privilege to be 15 feet away from him at the House of Blues--one of the two or three best concerts I have ever been fortunate to see.
Carlos was the one that first brought those amazing rhythms to the masses. It's not just about musical talent, although he has it, but his songwriting brought those great Latin sounds to public awareness, first at Woodstock, where fans were blown away by the sound. That alone and his great volume of material, plus being the #3 Guitarist of the Rock Era makes him not only a superstar but a legend. But his Supernatural album introduced this amazing talent to a new generation of people.
Carlos has done great things with his fame, and to tell you what a great person he is, he always donates proceeds to a great cause, last night to vulnerable children around the world. He parted by wishing us three things: good health, peace of mind, and joy. An awesome performance of sensational music made for an unforgettable night.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.