Marshall Blonstein's Audio Fidelity will be
releasing Santana's critically acclaimed live album Lotus on limited edition
hybrid SACD. Lotus is a 1974 live album by Santana, recorded at the Osaka
Koseinenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan in 1973. It was originally released in 1974 as a
triple vinyl LP in Japan only. The first U.S. release was in 1991 as a 2-CD
set. It features the “New Santana Band” and combines that group's jazz and
spiritual influences. Some of the band's biggest hits are performed, such as
“Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Como Va,” but it is the extended, intense
instrumentals that are the order of the day such as the breathtaking “Incident
at Neshabur,” “Every Step of the Way,” and “Toussaint L'Overture.”
Carlos' superpowered guitar is mesmerizing, the entire
atmosphere is otherworldly, beautiful, modern jazzy and most of all,
electrifying. His guitar tone is perfect, each solo has a central rhythmic and
melodic structure that was used to express in a moment what can never be
repeated. The greatness of Lotus is its ability to take all of Carlos'
beautiful melodies and expand them each into a whole new creation.
Santana fans know there are “several different Santanas.”
This was the MILES Santana, the COLTRANE Santana. This is intense and
awe-inspiring music played with so much mind-numbing passion. Carlos' guitar
speaks notes on this recording that are nothing short of extraordinary. He
manages to imbue a vibration that cuts right through your soul. Even on the
familiar hits, the jazz fusion makes its way into the notes and Carlos delivers
a new message. This was the top of Santana's spiritual-fusion era. Lotus is the
Live Santana album that gives other Live albums a bad name. Spectacular,
breathtaking, emotional, spiritual...and it rocks!
Disc one
Going Home
A-1 Funk
Every Step of the Way
Black Magic Woman
Gypsy Queen
Oye Como Va
Yours Is the Light
Batuka
Xibaba (She-Ba-Ba)
Stone Flower (Introduction)
Waiting
Castillos de Arena Part 1 (Sand Castle)
Free Angela
Samba de Sausalito
Disc two
Mantra
Kyoto (Drum Solo)
Castillos de Arena Part 2 (Sand Castle)
Incident at Neshabur
Se a Cabo
Samba Pa Ti
Mr. Udo
Toussaint L'Overture
Produced by The New Santana Band
Mastered by Steve Hoffman and Stephen Marsh at Marsh
Mastering
SACD Authoring: Stephen Marsh at Marsh Mastering
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