Caravanserai Santana

• 1 Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation 04:28
• 2 Waves Within 03:54
• 3 Look Up (To See What's Coming Down) 03:00
• 4 Just in Time to See the Sun 02:19
• 5 Song of the Wind 06:04
• 6 All the Love of the Universe 07:39
• 7 Future Primitive 04:12
• 8 Stone Flower 06:15
• 9 La Fuente del Ritmo 04:33
• 10 Every Step of the Way 09:05
• Total Runtime 51:29

Info for Caravanserai

Though there were hints of jazz fusion on Santana's first three albums, 1972's „Caravanserai“ introduced a dramatic shift in the band's sound, away from essentially pop-based music to a freer, more harmonically complex jazz/rock hybrid. In addition, the record marked a splintering of the original Santana lineup (soon to splinter further still with the departure of organist Gregg Rolie and guitarist Neal Schon, who then formed Journey).

Seemingly unconcerned with the pursuit of hit singles, guitarist Carlos Santana and crew here turn in an exquisitely moody disc of mostly instrumental jamming with a brooding intensity akin to Miles Davis's classic „Bitches Brew“, underscored by the San Francisco-based ensemble's trademark propulsive rhythms. The new approach reaches its apex on the fiery, Chick Corea-like 'La Fuente Del Ritmo,' which features future key Santana musicians Armando Pereza (percussion) and Tom Coster (piano). Also of note is bassist Doug Raunch, who replaces David Brown's meat-and-potatoes R&B playing with a more technically accomplished style that edges the group closer to Tower of Power territory. A dark and perhaps intentionally non-radio-friendly album that likely shocked many fans upon its release, „Caravanserai“ is an underrated, but important and fascinating, chapter in Santana's history.

„Drawing on rock, salsa, and jazz, Santana recorded one imaginative, unpredictable gem after another during the 1970s. But „Caravanserai“ is daring even by Santana's high standards. Carlos Santana was obviously very hip to jazz fusion -- something the innovative guitarist provides a generous dose of on the largely instrumental „Caravanserai“. Whether its approach is jazz-rock or simply rock, this album is consistently inspired and quite adventurous. Full of heartfelt, introspective guitar solos, it lacks the immediacy of Santana or Abraxas. Like the type of jazz that influenced it, this pearl (which marked the beginning of keyboardist/composer Tom Coster's highly beneficial membership in the band) requires a number of listenings in order to be absorbed and fully appreciated. But make no mistake: this is one of Santana's finest accomplishments.“ (Alex Henderson, AMG)

Carlos Santana, guitar, vocals, percussion
Neal Schon, guitar
Gregg Rolie, organ, electric piano, vocals, piano
Douglas Rauch, bass, guitar
Douglas Rodrigues, guitar
Wendy Haas, piano
Tom Rutley, acoustic bass
Michael Shrieve, drums, percussion
José 'Chepito' Areas, percussion, congas, timbales, bongos
James Mingo Lewis, percussion, congas, bongos, vocals, acoustic piano
Armando Peraza, percussion, bongos
Hadley Caliman, saxophone, flute
Rico Reyes, vocals
Lenny White, castanets
Tom Coster, electric piano
Tom Harrell, orchestra arrangement

Recorded February 21–May 5, 1972 at Columbia Studios, San Francisco, California
Recorded & engineered by Glen Kolotkin, Mike Larner
Produced by Carlos Santana, Mike Shrieve

Digitally remastered

No biography found.

This album contains no booklet.