Woodstock-era Santana Reunites for Latest Album

Santana IV finds the classic Woodstock-era iteration of the band back in full effect: Carlos Santana, Gregg Rolie, Neal Schon, Michael Shrieve, and Mike Carabello (who last played together on 1971’s number one hit album Santana III), along with current bandmembers Benny Rietveld and Karl Perazzo. The disc also features outstanding guest vocals on two choice cuts — “Love Makes the World Go Round” and “Freedom in Your Mind” — by soul legend Ronald Isley. As expected, Santana IV brings the legit Latin rock, Afro-Cuban polyrhythms, and epic Santana jams, and Carlos and his band of brujos succeed splendidly in rekindling the old “Black Magic Woman” sonic sorcery and enchanting the faithful. On the whole, Santana IV is a worthy addition to the group’s potent legacy.