Customer Reviews

Illuminations

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Of the five albums from Carlos Santana's jazzy period, four can be described as jazz/rock, altho the latter term is sometimes a stretch. Illuminations, Carlos' joint effort with Alice Coltrane, John's widow, cannot be so characterized at all except for one of the four instrumental tracks, "Angel of Sunlight." This jazz/rock fusion, also steeped in raga, is a showcase for the sort of fine guitar soloing expected from Carlos, as well as Santana-style percussion, good bass work, etc. The other three songs are jazz/classical. They are richly textured orchestral arrangements, heavy with sweeping strings arranged by Alice, who herself plays harp and mellotron. Jules Broussard plays flute as well as saxophone. (Where is that Santana percussion section?) Carlos' chief contribution is exquisite, sweet guitar notes, not ripping solos. The result is a majestic, celestial atmosphere, reflecting Carlos' and Alice's spiritual focus of the time. The song titles tell the story: "Angel of Air/Angel of Water," "Bliss: The Eternal Now," and the title cut. This music is not what you normally expect from Santana, but is very pleasant, very lovely, for sure.

I opine that this has to be Carlos Santana's BEST work EVER. With Alice Coltrane on harp and the beautiful arrangement for small orchestra, this album transports me to the place with all the angels in the picture on the album cover. This is truly a spiritual album and enables me to experience a myriad of many emotions and feelings of which the human mind is capable. This music is timeless and you can really feel LOVE emanating from the music. The album starts out more melodic then gradually melds into a beautiful chaotic kind of fusion reminiscent of the mid to late 70s, all the while still being beautifully chaotic and captivating! This is a prized possession in my music collection. Illuminations used to be out of print for quite awhile, so NOW is the time to buy this beautiful and spiritual album while you can. This album is best listened to in the dark with a good set of headphones, some Ruh Khus incense (made by Primo), and just the lights from your stereo components (or any other party lights you have to hang up). You'll think you died and went to Heaven. Yes, it's THAT GOOD of an album.

This is another daring Fusion Jazz Rock musical work for Carlos Santana.
Anybody who bought this album some 30 years ago hardly understood this musical work, since Santana's audiences were totally into different kind of music. For that reason Illuminations was the first Santana release not to go to Gold.
After the release of "love, Devotion and Surrender" and "Caravanserai", both in 1972, Santana continued exploring different routes from the Rock and Latin sounds he already was famous for.
On this album Santana is fully into Fusion, Jazz and Rock; with David Holland on bass, Tom Coster on Keyboards and Alice Coltrane on Harp, topped by a Classical 18 member band. The result is one of Santana's finest accomplishments.
This album is mainly for the lovers of Fusion Jazz Rock, Santana fans and any guitar great sound lover.
If you like this album, make sure to listen to "caravanserai" and "Love, Devotion and Surrender as well". 3 Santana albums that go hand in hand.

The names Coltrane & Santana sold this album to me as I found it accidentally one day searching through some experimental jazz albums! The album it self is a orchestral/jazz trip through warm washes of bass and drums through to the yearning call of the saxaphone blended with Carlos's typical solo routines backed with tabla beats. Any sample searchers out there should note that the orchestral arrangement in the first song was used by The Cinematic Orchestra for 'All That You Give' and has the same epic effect on you as the CO song does.
defintaly recommend this album if you are in to the Prog Rock sound and ambient jazz. Combined well to create a interesting album.

I first heard this when I was in my teens, when my old guitar teacher used to play it. I always loved Santana's playing, but (as a fellow reviewer also said) I had to grow up a bit before I could understand this music.

However, once I was able to "hear" this music, it resonated within me, and touched me deeply like few music is able to.

Santana's guitar work is, as is usually the case, passionate and flawless. But even more so on this recording. His tone, phrasing, all marvelous. Alice Coltrane's part in this as harpist, composer / arranger, and keyboardist is the work of a master musician by any standards. From the lush chords, harp work, and string arrangements that sweep through much of the album, to her Hendrix inspired howls and shrieks of joy on the organ in "Angel of Sunlight" are astonishing.

I cannot imagine - and refuse to allow - my CD collection without this one.

This is the closest album thing to avante garde jazz that
Carlos Santana every did.Featuring brilliantly dramatic string accompanyment by harpist/arranger Alice Coltrane,her harp also
plays a big role.The music is typically otherwordly and if you close your eyes while listening you will believe you are being transported to another world!Wheather orchestral,rock or jazz
the stylistic blend of sound and YES-great sense of melody make
this a high point for both musicians.Alice Coltrane's entire
catalog,by the way,is also definately worth checking out if you like what you hear on this recording!

I bought this album when I was 16 yrs. old and did not like it and never played it until again till I was in my 30s now I understand it. Carlos guitar tone is increidable Alice really complaments his playing thank you Carlos&Alice for breathing fire in our souls

I love going back and listening to something I liked in a different time and place and that is exactly what this colloboration does, it takes you to another time and place. That place is where everything stands still and the music engulfs your soul. The beauty of the moment, the here and now come together as the lush sounds and contemplative vibe by Cosmic Carlos and Alice Coltrane send you on ride through the universe, floating on air created by their notes. This is a beautiful disc to good for words. This is Cosmic Carlos at his best, reaching to the furthers of time and space and laying down some fantastic guitar riffs. The eloquent guitar phrasing is passionate with out being dazzling; it is in word, sublime. Alice Coltrane contributes beautifully with her instrumentation, playing counter and in direct flow to Santanas lead. Listening to this timeless disc reminds me of all the beauty within and around us all everywhere. If you have never heard this disc, were not born yet or just missed this one because it wasn't in the rock or jazz rock vein than check it out; it is one of Santanas most progressive, challenging and engrossing works. In particular I like a few outstanding tunes that stand above the rest. The epic "Angel of Sunlight"(14:40)is a musical odyssey in one song, it covers the Santana sound in all of it's diversity, it is a tour de force,the surreal tones and beauty of "Angel of Water" is a blessed song that has nearly religious qualities, it is as though an angel were present guiding in the studio and the finale "Illuminations" is a fitting farewell bringing complete closure to this bit of cosmic revelry. Like exploding and expanding universes resulting in rebirth this music cleanses your soul and sets you free again. Great stuff and highlty recommended for those moments of solitude and meditative peace that we all need.

There was a time when jazz and eastern mysticism was the direction that some late '60s guitarists aimed at. Interest in this came out of the over-excesses of the '60s with a need to make 'real' one's life. This music comes out of that time. It's very reminiscent of the Alice Coltrane, Pharaoh Sanders, Joe Henderson jazz team. Which is not surprising because at the time Santana talked alot about John Coltrane. The 1st several cuts on this CD are fantastically mellow. Santana is always on fire as a musician, but here he reins it in so that the music veritably glows like molten lava.The last cut is quite long and here he it rips it up but in the style of Alice Coltrane, not Carlos Santana. This is Santana music unlike other Santana music you may know. It's a Santana between styles,searching out something new. It's more of an Alice Coltrane CD featuring Carlos Santana. As a matter of interest,for a while this CD was filed under Alice Coltrane's name in most music stores, rather than Santana's. Parts of this music are STUNNINGLY beautiful and others are an 'acquired' taste. But it's worth listening to.

What a matchup! Carlos Santana and Alice Coltrane join together in this classic pairing of spiritual,meditative music...at one time in Santana's life he was a devoted follower of Guru Sri Chinmoy,and the music here is reflective of where he was at in his spiritual path,and although it is recreated here,the sound quality is not up to par,but it is a record of the time and acceptable for finding that part of you that gives glory to the Most High...