A really mindblowing collaboration between two of the most spiritual mainstream musicians of the early 70s – legendary guitarist
Carlos Santana and spiritual jazz guru
Alice Coltrane! The set came at a time when
Santana was reaching for much deeper ideas in both his music and his personal life – and
Coltrane turned out to be a perfect creative fit, as she'd already been down the path with her own music for years – and helps
Carlos here find an incredible setting that really lets his new vision take flight! The album's a very collaborative effort – with
Alice on piano, organ, and harp – but
Coltrane also brings in some fuller arrangements on half of the tracks – really opening things up, alongside other musicians who include Jack DeJohnette on drums, Dave Holland on bass, Jules Broussard on soprano sax and flute, and Tom Coster on both acoustic and electric piano. The strings are sublime – as heavenly as on
Alice's own records – and titles include "Angel Of Air Angel Of Water", "Bliss The Eternal Now", "Angel Of Sunlight", "Illuminations", and "Guru Sri Chinmoy Aphorism".
(Original 70s US pressing, with inner sleeve – a nice copy!)