Power of Peace

by Santana, The Isley Brothers

Overview

Supergroup pairings rarely work. Either there are too many egos involved or the magic promised on paper doesn't materialize because there are too many cooks in the kitchen, or record label and managerial bluster get in the way of actual spontaneity. That's not the case with Power of Peace, delivered by the Santana and Isley families in a Las Vegas studio without prior rehearsal. The material on this 13-song set is comprised mostly of iconic soul, funk, blues, and R&B covers. Carlos Santana and Ron Isley are joined by drummer Cindy Blackman Santana and Ernie Isley, the Santana road band, and a backing chorus of Kandy and Tracy Isley as well as Kimberley Johnson and Eddie Levert. "Are You Ready," the first of two Chambers Brothers tunes, opens the set with a Karl Perazzo conga workout followed by a funky bassline and Ernie on manic wah-wah guitar. Cindy's breaks and Carlos' leads push Ron to overdriven rock intensity with the backing chorus supports. It's a hard groover that introduces a rocking soul rave-up on Swamp Dogg's "Total Destruction to Your Mind." The pairing of Ron and Carlos here is fantastic. If it doesn't get you on your feet, you're already dead. Things get more intense on Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" with Ernie evoking Jimi Hendrix's spirit in his fills and solo, while Cindy's drumming and Perazzo's whomping congas push it into the red. Eddie Kendricks' burner "Body Talk" gets the same treatment. There are some ballads here, too. Ron delivers a beautiful adaptation of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" with Cindy on backing vocals. Santana's melodic presentation is matched by Ernie's tough blues phrasing. The lone original, "I Remember," is a gorgeous, bittersweet samba written and sung by Cindy; it's the only tune here that retains its restraint throughout (though Carlos is tempted to shred near the end). On Curtis Mayfield's "Gypsy Woman," Ron offers his sweetest falsetto amid a humid, atmospheric, Latin soul backdrop. Blues, hard rock, and funk collide in Willie Dixon's "I Just Want to Make Love to You," with Ernie shining in a burning solo. Only the Bacharach-David standard "What the Worlds Needs Now" and Leon Thomas' post-bop "Let the Rain Fall on Me" falter due to overly reverent presentations. That said, the gospelized Latin soul in Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" is a monster. The set closes with a complete reinvention of "Let There Be Peace on Earth," offering a stellar portrait of what the Santana band does well (especially with an ace guitarist like Ernie aboard). Ron, whose voice is undiminished by time, soars above the band and chorus to end it all on a spiritual tip. Power of Peace is loose, but everybody brought their chops to the party. This is what happens when great musicians gather simply to see what happens and enjoy one another's company. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	07/28/2017
Label:	Legacy / Sony Music
UPC:	0889854485122

Tracks

1. Are You Ready?
2. Total Destruction to Your Mind
3. Higher Ground
4. God Bless the Child
5. I Remember
6. Body Talk
7. Gypsy Woman
8. I Just Want to Make Love to You
9. Love, Peace, Happiness
10. What the World Needs Now Is Love, Sweet Love
11. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
12. Let the Rain Fall on Me
13. Let There Be Peace on Earth

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Isley Brothers   Primary Artist
Santana   Primary Artist
Jim Reitzel   Bass,Keyboards,Guitar (Rhythm)
Karl Perazzo   Percussion
Sandy Griffith   Choir/Chorus
Danesha Simon   Choir/Chorus
Kimberly Johnson   Vocals (Background)
Tony Anthony   Guitar (Rhythm)
David K. Mathews   Keyboards,Organ (Hammond)
Kandy Isley   Vocals (Background)
Cindy Blackman Santana   Drums,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Cornell Carter   Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Charles Boomer   Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Tracy Isley   Vocals (Background)
Maranatha Pryor   Choir/Chorus
Andy Vargas   Rap
Benny Rietveld   Bass
Eddie Levert   Vocals (Background)
Greg Phillinganes   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Carlos Santana   Guitar,Percussion,Guitar (Rhythm),Vocals (Background)
Ernie Isley   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm),Vocals (Background)
Ronald Isley   Vocals

Technical Credits

Ronald Isley   Group Member
Kathy Wakefield   Composer
Marvin Gaye   Composer
Jerry Williams, Jr.   Composer
Jim Reitzel   Mixing,Engineer,Mastering
Aaron Bell   Composer
Stevie Wonder   Composer
Burt Bacharach   Composer
Hal Miller   Liner Notes
Hal David   Composer
Houston Person   Composer
Willie Dixon   Composer
Willie Chambers   Composer
Frank Edward Wilson   Composer
Sy Miller   Composer
Jimmy Bruch   Photography
George E. Chambers   Composer
Maryanne Bilham-Knight   Photography
Jill Jackson Miller   Composer
Cindy Blackman Santana   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Josh Connolly   Mixing,Engineer
Julian Chambers   Composer
Tracy Isley   Photography
Heather Griffin-Vine   Design,Artwork
Billie Holiday   Composer
Arthur Herzog, Jr.   Composer
Curtis Mayfield   Composer
Carlos Santana   Mixing,Arranger,Producer,Executive Producer
Ernie Isley   Group Member
Lester Chambers   Composer
Joseph Chambers   Composer