On Friday, March 28, Santana released its latest album, Sentient, an 11-track retrospective that includes remastered versions of several previously available songs featuring guitar great Carlos Santana collaborating with some other famous artists.
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Among the guest artists who appear on Sentient are Smokey Robinson, Run DMC’s Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, and the late Michael Jackson and Miles Davis. Three of the songs on the album are previously unreleased.
In a new interview with American Songwriter, Carlos Santana explained that he curated Sentient to showcase the spirit of collaboration he experienced working with some of these other talented artists. He also noted that he’s appreciative to have had the opportunity to make music with these legends.
“I’m deeply aware of gratitude, because I’m grateful to be part of a CD that [includes] Darryl from Run DMC, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, [and] Miles Davis,” he said. “So, I’m in a group of luminaries and incredible musicians, and I’m very, very mindful and grateful.”
Asked to explain how the album’s title reflects the concept behind the retrospective, Carlos said, For me, sentient [is] a quality that we all have, and if we use it, it separates us from being monkeys and donkeys, and you behave more like a spiritual archangel or angel. … A sentient is a higher consciousness, deeply aware person who makes decisions from the highest good of … people on the planet.”
Santana’s Collaboration with Smokey Robinson
Sentient features a previously unreleased alternate version of the Santana-Robinson collaboration “Please Don’t Take Your Love.” The song that first appeared on Robinson’s 2009 album, Time Flies When You’re Having Fun. The Sentient version, which includes an unheard guitar solo by Santana, was released as the album’s first advance single.
“It’s a delight to work with Smokey,” Carlos told American Songwriter. The guitar great noted that he also has the utmost respect for Robinson because of all the great Motown hits he wrote.
“Being on a record that I was invited to participate with Smokey Robinson, I’m this high off the ground,” he added, “because I love Smokey so much, you know, and I admire him like crazy.”
About the Michael Jackson Collaboration, “Whatever Happens”
Another track on Sentient is “Whatever Happens,” which first appeared on Jackson’s chart-topping 2001 studio album, Invincible.
Santana played electric guitar and flamenco-style nylon-string guitar on the Latin music-influenced track. He also contributed a whistling part to the song.
“[T]o my surprise, Michael really liked [my whistling part], and he kept it,” Carlos noted. He added, “I love this song. Michael sounds very, like a mature lover, you know.”
According to Carlos, Jackson’s vocals are in the style of a bolero, a romantic Latin music style that has its roots 19th century Cuba.
“You know, I know, growing up with my dad, he used to sing boleros,” the guitarist shared. “So I knew where to fit in and where to play [and] where not to play [on ‘Whatever Happens’].”
About Santana’s Collaborations with Miles Davis
Four tracks on Sentient are remixed versions of songs that first appeared on Italian-American jazz composer/pianist Paolo Rustichelli’s 1996 album Mystic Man. Two of those tracks, “Get On” and “Rastafario,” also featured one of Santana’s musical heroes, legendary jazz trumpet-player Miles Davis.
The songs featured the interplay between Davis’ trumpet and Santana’s guitar, although Carlos recorded his parts separately after Miles laid down his own.
“For me it’s easy … to close my eyes and just penetrate, enter that frequency, you know, because I am programmed in my mind and in my heart to just complement,” Carlos said with regard to adding his guitar to the Rustichelli tracks. “You know, listen, know when to, and when not to, and how much [to play] … not as an intrusion or an invasion, but as, like I said, to complement.”
About Carlos’ Collaboration with His Wife, Cindy Blackman Santana
Sentient also features a new song called “Coherence” featuring Carlos collaborating with his wife, Santana drummer Cindy Blackman Santana. The track also will appear on Cindy’s forthcoming solo album.
The song showcases Carlos’ searing, Hendrix-influenced riffs and Cindy’s inventive and powerful beat-keeping.
“I am so proud [of my wife],” Carlos enthused. “When you see and hear my wife play drums, it’s not cute or clever. It’s actually badass, you know. The same way that you see [Olympic sprinter] Usain Bolt … Bruce Lee or Jimi Hendrix, that’s what Cindy is to the drums. Devotion, dedication, discipline, and diet. That’s how you get that stamina, because you have to have certain stamina to play the way Cindy plays.”
Asked about his guitar playing on “Coherence” seemingly being inspired by Hendrix, Carlos said, “I can’t help myself. I channel those that I love. I love Hendrix, Stevie Ray [Vaughan], Otis Rush, Peter Green, [and] Eric Clapton, of course. … I’m not dropping names. This is who I am, you know. They are me and I am them.”
Santana’s 2025 Performance Plans
Carlos Santana and his band have more than 60 concerts scheduled in 2025. They include U.S. and European legs of the band’s Oneness Tour, and multiple Las Vegas engagements as part of its long-running residency at the House of Blues.
Santana’s itinerary kicks off with an April 16 show in Highland, California.
Asked if he planned to include any songs from Sentient in his upcoming concerts, Carlos said, “Yes, we’ll incorporate probably ‘Don’t Take Your Love Away’ and ‘Whatever Happens.’ [And] maybe one of those songs like ‘Get On’ with Paolo Rustichelli and Miles.”
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