All That I Am (CD - 2005)

Santana: Carlos Santana (guitar, background vocals); Bill Ortiz (trumpet); Jeff Cressman (trombone); Chester Thompson (organ); Benny Rietveld (bass guitar); Dennis Chambers (drums); Karl Perazzo (congas, timbales, percussion, background vocals); Raul Rekow (congas, background vocals).

Additional personnel: Henry Garza (vocals, guitar); JoJo Garza (vocals, bass guitar); Joss Stone, Mary J. Blige, Michelle Branch, Andy Vargas, Anthony Hamilton, Steven Tyler, Bo Bice (vocals); Sean Paul, will.i.am, Big Boi (rap vocals); Gabriel Abularach (guitar, keyboards, bass guitar); George Pajon, Kirk Hammett, Tim Pierce (guitar); Robert Randolph (pedal steel guitar); David Stout (trombone); Moussa Diouf (piano, bass instrument); Preston Fullwood (organ); Dante Ross (keyboards); Kenny Aronoff, Jeff Rothschild (drums); Jessica Harp (background vocals).

Continuing with the formula of its Grammy-winning predecessors, SUPERNATURAL and SHAMAN, 2005's ALL THAT I AM once again finds Carlos Santana pairing off with a diverse group of superstar musicians. While some of the combinations seem perfectly natural--the jam with Austin's Los Lonely Boys, "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love," is a match made in virtuoso heaven--others are more unexpected and showcase Santana's ability to master numerous strains of pop and rock. "Trinity" is an shredder's dream as Carlos squares off with Metallica's Kirk Hammett and neo-bluesman Robert Randolph, while tracks featuring Mary J. Blige and Outkast's Big Boi ("My Man") and Anthony Hamilton ("Twisted") offer the kind of R&B groove that made "Sway" such a smash.

As expected, the production on ALL THAT I AM is pristine, and Santana's guitar work is as impeccably fluid as ever, particularly on the albums two opening tracks. On both "Hermes" and "El Fuego," the singer/guitarist goes in alone and really cuts loose to indulge in the Latin rock fusion that brought him to prominence in the late 1960s. It's as if Santana wants to remind listeners where his heart's really at before bringing in the likes of Michelle Branch, Bo Bice, and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler to generate some hits. Still, the truly uplifting salsa/hip-hop anthem "I Am Somebody," featuring Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas, is so infectious it's hard to imagine anyone dismissing it. ALL THAT I AM proves there's still some life left in this novel concept, and it's sure to be a hit with both Santana fans and those of his latest musical pals. minimize