Caravanserai in Bloomington, MN

Drawing on
rock
,
salsa
, and
jazz
Santana
recorded one imaginative, unpredictable gem after another during the 1970s. But
Caravanserai
is daring even by
's high standards.
Carlos Santana
was obviously very hip to
jazz fusion
-- something the innovative guitarist provides a generous dose of on the largely instrumental
. Whether its approach is
jazz-rock
or simply
, this album is consistently inspired and quite adventurous. Full of heartfelt, introspective guitar solos, it lacks the immediacy of
or
Abraxas
. Like the type of
that influenced it, this pearl (which marked the beginning of keyboardist/composer
Tom Coster
's highly beneficial membership in the band) requires a number of listenings in order to be absorbed and fully appreciated. But make no mistake: this is one of
's finest accomplishments. ~ Alex Henderson