Review & Photos by Joe Schaeffer
Carlos Santana is back to bringing 50 years plus of his Latin-seasoned classic rock to the House of Blues in Las Vegas. Joined by his crack band, the guitarist has been performing a residency at the club inside the Mandalay Hotel on the Strip since 2012. Unfortunately, he was sidelined after having a heart procedure in December 2021. But you’d never know by tonight’s stellar performance.
Santana started off with Woodstock-era songs and moved on to newer, jazzier tunes — always with a hard driving Latin beat. His guitar playing skills have not diminished over the years. If anything, he is a more nuanced player, willing to allow the other players shine through. His comments and stories between songs were always interesting and showed a great sense of humor.
The nine-member group covered Santana’s best-known songs, pushing full-throttle into “Soul Sacrifice,” “Jingo,” “Evil Ways,” “Black Magic Woman,” “She’s Not There,” “Oye Como Va,” “Winning,” and even reaching far back into the catalog for the sweet “Samba Pa Ti.”
Each member of the group excelled at their chosen instrument. Together, the group stretched out for some long jams and unveiled more current material during mid-set but roared back later with even more hits.
After finishing up the main set with “Maria Maria,” they returned for a three-song encore including a showcase for drummer Cindy Blackman Santana. The evening ended with the smash chart-topper “Smooth.”
