Santana Africa Speaks CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA and KARL PERAZZO shine on an exhilarating new release from one of music’s truly timeless bands. Drummer Cindy Blackman Santana’s call and response with conguero Karl Perazzo sets the tone for the heightened rhythmic interplay to follow on Africa Speaks. The versatile drummer gives her toms a workout on “Batonga,” leaning into the snare to craft a hybrid second-line groove as well, and, as “Oye Este Mi Canto” shifts from 6/8 to 4/4 funk-rock, she aggressively accents along with the leader’s searing guitar. With Perrazo keeping time on bongo, she fills the gaps with creativity and intent, capping the tune with crisp single strokes. The straight-up-and-swinging rock groove on “Yo Me Lo Merezco” bends into dancehall turf on an epic out-vamp, while the slamming pocket on “Los Invisibles” and jam on “Blue Skies” are as raw as Santana tracks recorded half a century earlier. […]

October 2019 Issue