CARLOS SANTANA & JOHN MCLAUGHLIN: LOVE DEVOTION SURRENDER

A first time studio collaboration between two "enlightened" and virtuous guitar players, playing a cheerful and full of a "show of hands" rendition of John Coltrane's 1964, own kind of prayer , which went by the name of "A Love Supreme".

The best part, besides the obvious intention of the concept, is precisely the "clash" of styles, the "original" composition diversifies into. Somehow the album launches from there to a variety of songs, that some are independent of Coltrane's composition and highlight themselves because of the same. These songs in turn, make this work, sound richer in musical ideas and approaches.

A well balanced combination between Santana's "latin" flavor blended with the "all converted" Indo/Raga/Jazz of McLaughlin's "transformed" guitar and his approach of playing. Both musicians respect each other, but the "concept" and orientation of the music they emulate (religious like), has as a performing requirement, to be played with the innermost "JOY" you are able to achieve.

So, expect a show of hands, a blend of styles, a focused concept and goal, that although it could be tendentious by them or pre-judiced by new listeners, it is neither exclusive nor pretentious. In fact the Jazz tagging helps, considering, it contains a fair amount of impro like heartfelt, energetic performances by every member of the ensemble (lots of percussions).

I might even think, John Coltrane will happily approve on, these guitarist's rendition of his famous recording. ....I myself still hold it in my music collection. ****4 PA stars.