VIVA SANTANA!

Soon after the release of the 2-CD set Viva Santana! a video version followed. It contains live footage from TV and concerts. The earliest work is from 1969 (The Ed Sullivan Show with Persuasion featuring psychedelic screen projections) and a live concert in the USA in 1970 with Evil Ways. Then we move chrononically from The Seventies into The Eighties with lots of 'classics' like Black Magic Woman (exciting blend of different concert footage), I Love You Much Too much (beautiful pink spotlights on Santana with his moving guitar play) and of course Soul Sacrefice with the thrilling Woodstock version featuring split screen images, the 16 years old drummer Mike Shrieve with a stunning solo, an emotional Santana, great percussion work and Gregg Rolie with his splendid Hammond organ solo. But the most striking performance is another Black Magic Woman version when the band plays under a roof but the crowd suffered from pouring rain, everybody is soaked but keep on dancing and screaming because Santana and his band works their socks off to cheer up the crowd, great scenes! So there is plenty to enjoy but unfortunately the production team decided to blend the images with a voice over from Carlos Santana, telling his stories in a quite dull way. Nonetheless, for me this didn't spoil all pleasure but I was not really happy when Carlos started another story during wonderful musical moments like the Hammond solo in Black Magic Woman or the guitar solo in I Love You Much Too Much.

"An Intimate Conversation With Carlos Santana". This is what one can read at the start of this DVD. We'll listen to some "experiences" of Carlos (LSD, spiritual etc.). This DVD is actually a short overveiw of Santana career starting with some black and white footage (montage from "Persuasion", "Jingo" and "Soul Sacrifice). Rather disappointing to get bits of these three songs only in a very short format version for the time (they used to extend these to long numbers (you can listen to these in their great "Live At The Fillmore" to figure out.

During "Evil Ways" Carlos is talking about some concerts in Tijuana (a Mexican border city) and all the extravaganza that young Americans (US) could experienced there (and still do). I would have rather listen to the song than to these comments (or maybe as a separate interview). And when he starts talking about the bible etc. it just turns out to be boring.

I saw Carlos playing live ages ago (for the "Amigos" tour I think) and he was already starting his religious "mission". I quite dislike this from artists. I respect each one's belief but they should stop trying to convince their musical fans into their spiritual beliefs.

Same chatting occur during the wonderful second part of "Incident At Neshabur". At this time, I wonder if I'll make it till the end of this DVD. I can't count how many little pieces of different concerts (twenty or so) makes the whole of "Black Magic Woman" (the medley). Absolutely useless to propose this "mix".

Same dull treatment during "Europa". At this point I don't even want to listen to what Carlos is saying.

The first great moment is "Black Magic Woman/Gispsy Queen" recorded in Santo Domingo (1982) during an incredible storm. Wet, wet, wet! At least no "story" during this one. Just the public announcer telling (in English !!!) that it would be too dangerous to continue under these circumstances.

The atmosphere during "Samba Pa'Ti" is quite electric. It was also recorded in Latin America (San Salvador in 83), and I guess that it has another flavour while Santana plays there.

The only interesting "story" part is when Carlos talks about his different vocalists during "I Love You Much Too Much" (although I have never been impressed by none of them).

The second musical highlight could have been their monster track "Soul Sacrifice" (at least till he starts again with talking about the event). Played at Woodstock. This version (the soundtrack one) is only superseded by the full lenght one available on the 25th Anniversary four CD box of the event or on the remastered version of their first album. So my advice is just to view the original movie one to get rid of these "comments" (discúlpame Carlos). This fantastic song features one of the greatest (not the longest) drum solo I have ever heard. An incredible beat all the way through.

This document could have great but the useless speeches overdubing the music are the worst treatment I can imagine. This is a great missed opportunity, and you know that I have been quite enthusiastic about this band (up to "Moonflower" but except "Festival").

This is for die-hard fans. Emotionally, I will add one star and make it three.