Talk:Abraxas Pool
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Abraxas Pool is an album of former Santana band members, in which the musicians featured try to recapture the sound and spirit of the pre-spiritual musical efforts of Carlos Santana, as started on the fine 'headphone' album Caravanserai. The band is obviously named after the second Santana album Abraxas. A must for the committed Santana fan, this is really 'Santana without Santana'. Neal schon, a capable guitarist who joined carlos for the Santana III and Caravanserai albums, tries hard to emulate the breathtaking and immediately recognisable style of Mr. Santana. However, predictably he only comes remotely near. Though Schon obviously can't touch Santana on guitar, he is obviously quite capable in his own right, and it does interestingly highlight the fact that Carlos' guitar playing is really in a league of it's own.
But this is a joyful effort throughout, with the same spirit of musical and lyrical sincerity we get from Carlos and Co. We might well consider this album a genuine addition to the Santana catalogue, since Carlos himself has always been very generous in allowing other musicians, including guitarists, to grace and shape the music in his musical adventures. It's easy to see this album as an extension of Santana. And the devoted Santana fans will easily hope that some time the guys on the album, and perhaps a different line-up of ex-Santana members, will get together again and make an 'Abraxas Pool II' album.