Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Santana III -Sacd-

The final Santana album recorded with the leader's famed Woodstock lineup, one of the most capable and explosive bands ever assembled, Santana III (commonly referred to as The Third Album) is a beacon of Latin-tinged rock, melodic creativity, and cohesive interplay. The record also marks the debut of young guitar virtuoso Neal Schon, who functions as the ideal foil to Santana, who s playing on this 1971 set rivals that of the finest in his career. If not for arriving after the monumental Abraxas, it is likely Santana III would be mentioned in the same breath as groundbreaking psychedelic classics such as Bitches Brew. It's that good and now, it's even better.Mastered from the original master tapes, Mobile Fidelity's hybrid SACD of Santana III features sumptuous warmth, immersive dynamics, refined textures, and you-are-there realism. The tension of Schon's guitar lines, the album's open sound, and extensive use of studio echoes (check the presence of the backward echo on "No One to Depend On") fill the soundstage, replete with the kind of depth one expects from a first-rate audiophile recording. Santana's playing, too, resonates with tonal and physical detail that brings you closer to his creative visions. Fueled by a cavalcade of exotic percussion, Santana III has never sounded more balanced, vivid, or natural. The record remains a landmark in Santana's revered catalog.A globe-spanning armada of percussive instruments timbales, congas, drums, vibes, tambourines, and more as well as the existence of a three-person percussion team that fits in harmoniously with Santana, Schon, and company makes Santana III a masterful accomplishment in musical chemistry and the exploration of worldly sounds.