Santamental

Steve Lukather | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 20, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Favored Nations
• ASIN: B000A2H9YS
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #258,544 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Joy to the World

2. Greensleeves

3. Jingle Bells

4. Carol of the Bells

5. Broken Heart for Christmas

6. Angels We Have Heard on High

7. Winter Wonderland

8. Look Out for Angels

9. Silent Night

10. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) [*]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Look up in the sky, is that Santa’s flying sleigh or a Gibson Flying V? In what is the year's best play on the sentimental Santa season, Steve Lukather and his distinguished axemen like Slash, Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen and others such as Edgar Winter, mix up the pyro-techniques from the day with the merriments and potholes of the season in what also could be called SantaMetal. The guys do a fair amount of improvising here and there in a combination soft-jazz-hard-rock fusion that runs from the furious to fanciful. Visiting "Carol of the Bells," "Joy to the World," and "Silent Night" among the 10 tracks here, the guys never met a piano section they didn't love to solo over. Even when they go for the bloozey, down-and-out effect on "Broken Heart at Christmas," or warn, "Look Out for Angles," the spirit of the season and mingling of like-minded guitar slingers can't mask how much fun they’re really having in the jingle gym. And that's a fairly sentimental notion even a grinch could detect, however manic it sounds at times. -- Martin Keller

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SANTAMENTAL - STEVE LUKATHER & FRIENDS, November 16, 2003

By 

Will Minting "willminting" (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Santamental (Audio CD)

If, like me, you're tired of the same old Christmas songs year in, year out, treat your family to a musical feast courtesy of Luke and his mega-talented buddies. Luke's 4th solo studio album was recorded and mixed in one week during June 2002 in California - not the ideal climatic ambience to record Christmas songs but the seasonal vibe is all there in large helpings! The core band this time around, Luke, Jeff Babko, Greg Bissonette and John Pierce were augmented by an array of famous friends who dropped by to add a track or two of festive cheer. Luke scored at least two major scoops making this record; permission from Sammy Davis Jnr's estate to sample his vocals from a Las Vegas performance to facilitate a virtual duet and the contribution of Eddie Van Halen, who has not released any new studio recordings since 1998. As if Luke and EVH playing together on one album is not enough for guitar fans, Steve Vai, Slash and Mike Landau also let rip on tracks 4,5 and 8 respectively. The liner notes reveal Luke's pride as his 16 year old son Trevor accompanies him on record for the first time. Each musician's performances are quite simply brilliant - the clarity of each recorded part shines through but to me, Pierce's bass lines were especially inspired! (Edgar) Winter Wonderland is a seriously smokin' bluesy groove and the hilarious big band Jingle Bells deserve to be Christmas party classics and the more fusion-orientated songs ought to attract critical acclaim in recognition of the abundant virtuosity displayed here. Santamental features two new rocking catchy songs, Broken Heart for Christmas and Look out for Angels. Chill-out tracks are also included; the melancholic Silent Night and The Christmas Song are tributes to Luke's mentors, Jeff Beck and Larry Carlton, demonstrating a touch of which his contemporaries will be in awe. Unbelievably, Luke's vocal and guitar performances and inspiration continue to mature and impress after 30 prolific years. Order your copy and join the party - Christmas will never sound quite the same again, thanks to everyone's bro Luke & friends!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Electric Guitar Christmas!, December 16, 2003

By 

1jazzlover (Nampa, ID United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Santamental (Audio CD)

I'm always looking for interesting Christmas music, and this fits the bill nicely. I have nothing else like it...a Christmas CD that is loaded with excellent guitar solos! Steve has gathered together some renowned fellow guitarists for this project including....Van Halen, Steve Vai, Slash, and Mike Landau. The rest of the 'band' is outstanding, too. John Pierce on bass, Gregg Bissonette on drums, Lenny Castro on percussion, Jeff Babko on keys, and some real horns including Edgar Winters on Sax!

This CD covers a variety of musical styles including contemporary jazz (Angels We Have Heard on High), jazz fusion (Joy to the World, Greensleeves), rock (Broken Heart for Christmas), and even big band with vocals (Jingle Bells w/Sammy Davis Jr on vocals!).

Bottom line...if you are an electric guitar lover with a penchant for jazz...you will want this.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best..., November 20, 2005

By 

L. Mayhurst "99girl" (Earth, North America) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Santamental (Audio CD)

I've been known to play this CD in the middle of the summer. Why? Well, because it's too long to wait for Christmas. This is simply the best Christmas album to come out in, like, forever. I won't reiterate the list of fantastic musicians and their great work, all done within six days in the middle of June, was it? Others have listed the particulars, so read their reviews, too. It you are still thinking about whether or not to get this CD, don't. Simply click the button now and you won't be sorry when it arrives!