Our favourite Santana LP. So much to enjoy besides the dazzling guitarism of Carlos Santana — channeling John Coltrane — and John McLaughlin.
It’s book-ended by contributions from Alice Coltrane. The stunning opener is a mellotron version of Going Home, her adaptation of a theme from Dvorak’s New World Symphony, which she first recorded for the album Lord Of Lords. Alice plays piano and Farfisa organ. And to close, the title track re-works a tune from JC’s Kulu Se Mama, with Alice on piano here.
Percussionist Jose Chepito Areas chips in his perfect Samba de Sausalito, with bass-playing by Doug Rauch, and keys by Tom Coster, both superb, and Tony Smith from Malo behind the drum-kit.
Later on, the one and only Flora Purim drops by, magnificently lighting up another samba, Yours Is The Light.
And none other than Leon Thomas had just joined. He duets beautifully with Wendy Haas on a breezy jazz-funk version of Love, Devotion & Surrender; he’s back for full-throated yodelling on When I Look Into Your Eyes, with fine flute-playing by Joe Farrell, and some tasty funk to close; and he’s wonderful on the bubbling Light Of Life, riding a striking strings arrangement by Greg Adams from Tower Of Power, with echoes of CTI.