Customer Reviews

Moonflower

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Moonflower is a stellar recording by the Santana Band, made up of both new releases and live versions of classic Santana songs. The live tracks are all from Amigos, Festival, and Santana's brilliant first three albums; there is nothing from the jazzy middle period. Two quintessential, precious Santana numbers are introduced on Moonflower: the title cut, written by keyboard player Tom Coster and hard to distinguish from "Europa" (also on this album, live) until the latter parts of each, and "She's Not There," a great cover of the 1960s English hit. Coster's piano shines on "Dawn/Go Within." But all the new songs are excellent: "Bahia"; "Zulu," with its great Afro-Cuban rhythms; "El Morocco," jazz fusion and a little funk; and two very lovely numbers, "I'll Be Waiting" and "Transcendance." Carlos' blistering, dazzling guitar magic and, as usual, the percussion section are excellent throughout. "Toussaint L'Overture," "Soul Sacrifice," and "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" are always gems on a live Santana album (especially live cuts of "Gypsy Queen," beyond breathtaking). There is something here for everyone, all very good. Moonflower is arguably the high-water mark of the Santana Band, capturing the eclectic character and musical dynamism of its early period, and as a double CD to boot.

Not only is Moonflower one of the best works by Carlos Santana, but I think it is one of the best guitar albums I have ever heard.

This is one of Carlos' greatest bands. Totally professional, totally mature. This doesn't have the youthful idealism as the Abraxas album, but this is smooth, incredible playing, with Tom Coster on keys and Greg Walker on vocals. This also includes *the* best version of Santana's opus "Europa."

When I was much younger, I sold my meager coin collection (of a few Peace dollars - Hey, I said I was young.) to buy this double album. I have never, I don't think, made a better purchase. Carlos Santana may not play the fastest, or the loudest, or have the most complicated licks. But for me, he is among the elite in terms of making a single note just sing. His playing can touch your heart in ways very few musicians can. He can turn up the technique if he wants to, but I think he's matured at this waypoint in his career to where he doesn't have to, and for me, that is the sign of a master artist. Santana was a bit jazzy here on a few cuts, and his band, as usual, is beyond crazy good. I still haven't heard many drummers who can carry things along and are technically as solid as Graham Lear, and the way all the percussionists fit together without walking on each other or the intent of the song is worth buying itself. Musicianship generally isn't of this quality anymore as we have ventured more into a songwriter/singer phase, but Santana and his band just cook and show 'how it's done'.

The set is a mixed bag of live recording and new studio tracks, and both components work wonderfully. I have far too many favorites on this CD to select one, but Moonflower, Europa, Tom Costers synth solo on Carnaval, Dance Sister Dance all stand out.... just too many spectacular cuts. For me, Santana has only reached this level of merit one other time, in the horribly recorded but otherwise fine Lotus from his earlier days. If you're a 'newbie' Santana fan, or for some reason do not own this album, pony up the cash and get it immediately. I doubt you'll be dissapointed.

There's a wide range of moods here: takes a few spins to get into the overall flow, but the album certainly has flow. I bought Moonflower because I remember the live version of "Black Magic Woman." The Santana sound, with amazing percussion and guitar, comes through not only on this song, but on almost all the selections. You will find Carlos in top form. I dig the version of "She's Not There." What's more, many of the songs contain really impressive elements of jazz fusion. Overall, Moonflower is more readily accessible than Lotus (Lotus being an AWESOME but dense live masterpiece), and it's the kind of music that gets you up and jumping. Highly recommended.

Words cannot describe the excellence of this album. This is the BEST Santana album I have heard. Half studio, half live, all great! Awesome rock songs like "She's Not There" and "Black Magic Woman", Spanish influenced groovers such as "Let the Children Play" and "Dance Sister Dance", several unbelievable instrumentals, and tender love songs like "I'll Be Waiting". And throughout, there is the ever-present guitar beauty of Carlos Santana! This album is the cream of the crop - Santana at its very best!

This is, in my mind probably the best Santana album in terms of material. If you could only get one Santana cd this should be it. What else can one say, buy it and see.

Interesting that his latest album would become album of the year, when the music is not new at all and Carlos has been capturing this sound for years. Hats off to Carlos, he really deserved his awards, I would call it lifetime achievement! This album is spectacular and I as a rule do not like live recordings, but, this one is incredible. These live recordings are produced so well, it sounds like a studio version. I remember having SHE'S NOT THERE on a 45 and never owned this album in the 70's, but, now I am so glad to have discovered it and thank god for CD. If you truly want to hear Santana at their most original and best, forget Supernatural and revisit this gem.

Along with Santana III this is my favorite recording by Carlos and Co. In fact, the line-up for this great double disc set is probably one of the best and most versatile I've heard. Tom Coster is a brilliant keyboardist, Graham Lear and Raul Rekow are both top-notch percussionists, and of course Mr. Santana is once again seminal and sublime. The rest of the band fits in really well; no one ever tramples on another performer's playing. A few personal notes: "Dance Sister Dance" is, simply put, amazing, "Black Magic Woman" is much stronger now, having been updated from the older version that everybody is familiar with, and the guitar solo/outro in "Toussaint L'Overture is still peaking. The bottom line is that Moonflower is perfect, one of a handful of recordings that just keeps progressing and traveling and speaking to the listener with every listen.

While I agree that Lotus is a superior work in many respects, it suffers from mixing problems, and tunes like Black Magic Woman, became long drawn out, lacking the fire of the Moonflower version.This also is the most latin sounding of Santana works, especially Flor D'Luna which is done in the best of the latin romantic tradition.Other stand outs are Greg Walker's soulful vocals on Transcendance, and Carlos' playing on El Morocco kills, turning the middle eastern flavored tune into a jazz-blues workout with Tom Coster.This cd for me, marks the end of very creative experimental era for Santana.