Santana Is In Fine Shape

Carlos Santana is back plying his trade. Business is likely to be very good judging from what "Shape Shifter" has to offer. You'll likely need to wring your sweat into a bucket once you've come back down from the heights of "Eres La Luz". The fixings are in place for a steaming samba feast. It helps Carlos can turn to the efforts of percussionist Karl Perazzo. His contribution makes for intense heat. "Canela" amounts to a titular sleight of hand. Here's the true "Shape Shifter". The build up assumes the form of a juicy lounge act session but then powers upwards to spicy Latino harmonies not skimping on Santana's virtuoso wizardry. Once the RPMs go heavenward the aural climate shifts from intimate club setting to revered theatre because a legendary theatre hall is where the song belongs. The skin bashing returns to the spotlight with "Macumba in Budapest". I could see a wildly successful fiesta being kick started here. Combine the primal skins with unencumbered plucking and you've got a masterpiece primed to keep your party guests talking long after the last crumb has been devoured. "Mr. Szabo" is, in a word, athletic. Chord progressions swerve from hot lower registers to cold upper registers and back again. It deserves no small mention that Freddie Ravel's keyboard playing accentuates what would have already been a CD with a bold personality. "Shape Shifter" shines the spotlight on a master of the arts doing what he does best. You're in for a lovely treat.