Santana old and new

The nostalgia train is still chugging merrily along and I do think you should hop in before the trend fizzles out and discover that you have missed out on watching your favorite artists perform live. The foreign act slated for shows this weekend is Santana Roots and the show is entitled Santana Roots in Manila! This is a two-night concert series presented by Ovation Productions to be held on Friday, April 28 and on Saturday, April 29 at the Clark Expo in Clark Field, Pampanga.

The name Santana Roots, of course harks back to Devadip, the famous Carlos himself, who together with Jose Areas, Michael Carabello, David Brown, Michael Shrieve and Gregg Rolie formed Santana in 1968. The group fused Latin rhythms with rock and R&B to produce its unique sound and was an instant hit with the public. With Rolie as lead vocalist, Santana electrified over 400,000 fans at Woodstock in 1969 and went on to create monster hits like Evil Ways, Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va, Persuasion, Jingo, Soul Sacrifice, Everybody’s Everything and many others.

In spite of this success, Rolie however did not stay long. He left Santana after singing lead vocals and co-producing four hit albums to found another famous group, the progressive rock band Journey. Now that one is another act with such a hit-filled history. Think songs like Open Arms, wonderfully revived by Mariah Carey, Who’s Crying Now, Be Good to Yourself, Faithfully and lots of others. Makes me wonder if Rolie and maybe Steve Perry can also do a Journey Roots tour.

But this piece is about Rolie in Santana Roots so let us shelve Journey for the moment and try to revisit their music another day. Besides, as we have recently found out, it looks like Rolie never really forgot his Santana roots and is now fronting his own Santana band. So just in case you have been wondering, the classic Santana sound will be what Pinoys are going to get when they watch the Santana Roots concert.

Arriving with Rolie for the shows will be other Santana veterans, Michael Carabello on congas, Alphonso Johnson on bass and Adrian Areas on timbales. Tickets to Santana Roots in Manila are priced at P3,500, P3,000, P2,500, P1,500, P800 and P300 and are available at Ticketnet outlets in all SM Department Stores and at the Araneta Coliseum ticket office.

All That I Am

Now, all of you out there who still believe Santana is not Santana without the legendary Carlos might want to check out the group’s new album All That I Am while waiting hopefully for news of the band’s possible Manila stint. As with what now usually happens in most Santana albums which do not have Rolie or another vocalist singing lead, Carlos invites several big name artists to join him. He has assembled a truly stellar cast for All That I Am and they do not only lend their voices but infuse Santana music with new, interesting influences. Think Santana goes hip hop or reggae.

The cuts included and the guest artists are: Hermes, El Fuego, I’m Feeling You featuring Michelle Branch and The Wreckers, My Man featuring Mary J. Blige and Big Boi, Just Feel Better featuring Steven Tyler, I Am Somebody featuring will.i.am, Con Santana, Twisted featuring Anthony Hamilton, Trinity featuring Kirk Hammett and Robert Randolph, Cry Baby Cry featuring Sean Paul and Joss Stone, Brown Skin Girl featuring Bo Bice, I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love featuring Los Lonely Boys and Da Tu Amor.

Reader’s request

From the mail. Byron Alberto of Sta. Rosa, Laguna sent in this list of singing stars from the ‘50s and ‘60s whom he wishes local promoters would bring over for shows. He feels bad that the most popular choices, Elvis Presley, Rick Nelson, Roy Orbison and Bobby Darin are not available anymore but there are still other stars out there we will certainly enjoy watching live.

Here goes: Pat Boone, Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Brenda Lee, Cliff Richard, Everly Brothers, Johnny Mathis, Jimmie Rodgers, Frankie Avalon, Connie Francis, Neil Sedaka, Fabian, Chubby Checker, Steve Lawrence, Tina Turner, Jimmy Clanton, Trini Lopez, Stevie Wonder, Jack Jones, the Bobbys, Rydell, Vinton, Vee and Goldsboro, and the rockers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Chuck Berry.