Classic Santana Lineup Reuniting For Album (Update)

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Santana IV reunites legendary band lineup – Pictured (l-r) Benny Rietveld, Michael Shrieve, Gregg Rolie, Carlos Santana, Michael Carabello, Neal Schon, Karl Perrazo

Update (3/5/16): Tickets go on sale this morning for a performance by what’s being billed as the original Santana band: Carlos Santana (guitar, vocals), Gregg Rolie (keyboards, lead vocals), Neal Schon (guitar, vocals), Michael Carabello (percussion), and Michael Shrieve (drums). They will reunite on March 21 at the House of Blues at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas for a special live performance that will be filmed for television and DVD release.

The classic rock band will perform songs from the first three Santana albums and introduce fans to songs from their forthcoming studio album, Santana IV. Click here to purchase tickets.

The band has also released a “Making Of” video for the album (see below).

Update (2/11/16): Not one to sit still, Carlos Santana will join jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, plus John McLaughlin, Marcus Miller and his wife, Cindy Blackman Santana in Mega Nova. The new “supergroup” will perform at least once: they’ve scheduled a “joyous celebration with modern jazz and rock icons alike” at the Hollywood Bowl on August 24th. Since Santana is performing in Europe in July, let’s see if they expand that to more U.S. dates this summer.

The revered early ’70s lineup of guitar icon Carlos Santana (guitar, vocals), Gregg Rolie (keyboards, lead vocals), Neal Schon (guitar, vocals), Michael Carabello (percussion) and Michael Shrieve (drums) have reunited to record a new studio album Santana IV, marking the first time in 45 years – since 1971’s multi-platinum classic Santana III – that the classic rock quintet has recorded together.

The album, featuring 16 all-new tracks written and produced by the band, arrives April 15th. Joining the core Santana IV band in the studio are current Santana members Karl Perazzo (percussion) and Benny Rietveld (bass), with original Isley Brothers vocalist Ronald Isley guesting on two cuts.

The band has released a first track: “Anywhere You Want To Go”…

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Check out our other story about the Santana-Journey concerts this spring.

The origins for the reunion go back several years, when Schon suggested that he and Santana record together. Santana liked the idea but went one better, proposing that they recruit Rolie, Shrieve and Carabello for what would be called Santana IV. After initial writing sessions and rehearsals took place in 2013, the group recorded throughout 2014 and 2015, amassing 16 tracks that combined all their signature elements – Afro-Latin rhythms, soaring vocals, electrifying blues-psychedelic guitar solos, and irrepressibly jubilant percussion work.

“It was magical,” Santana says. “We didn’t have to try to force the vibe – it was immense. From there, we then needed to come up with a balance of songs and jams that people would immediately identify as Santana.”

The announcement calls the first single, “Anywhere You Want to Go,” a “sexy, body-shaking winner and an unmistakable tip of the hat to the inescapable cha-cha/Latin jazz charms of ‘Oye Como Va’.” Album opener “Yambu” is described as a soulful stomper teeming with swirling B3 organ hooks and walloping guitar crunch.

“Carlos and I feel more connected than ever,” says Schon. “We get super-aggressive when we play, but also melodic and poetic. We have an incredible dialog with each other on our guitars.” After leaving Santana, Schon went on to form Journey in 1973.

SANTANA IV reunites legendary band lineup - new studio album out April 15, 2016 (PRNewsFoto/SANTANA)

Santana IV cover

Music fans familiar with the “roaring lion” artwork on Santana’s 1969 debut album will recognize the graphic for Santana IV as an update of that iconic image. “I really think the music goes along with the cover, and vice versa,” says Santana. “It all fits together beautifully.”

Santana IV will be released on April 15 on Santana IV Records on CD, Double 180 Gram Vinyl with Download Card and Digital configurations.

Santana IV Tracks:
Yambu
Shake It
Anywhere You Want To Go
Fillmore East
Love Makes The World Go Round (Feat: Ronald Isley)
Freedom In Your Mind (Feat: Ronald Isley)
Choo Choo
All Aboard
Suenos
Caminando
Blues Magic
Echizo
Leave Me Alone
You And I
Come as You Are
Forgiveness

As a special offer for fans attending select shows on Santana’s upcoming Luminosity tour, a CD copy of SANTANA IV is included with every pair of tickets. This offer will be redeemed via a promo code at MusicRedemptions.com. The band has residencies scheduled for the House of Blues in Las Vegas, from January 27 – February 6 and May 18-29.

Here’s a classic performance from 1971: