Santana: Sacred Fire - Live in Mexico

Years back I remember seeing a couple of the musicians in this video in passing at a studio I worked at. They were talking shop with some of my coworkers who were part of the Bay Area music scene, and who also did some film/video production work. There was a brief and passing mention of a concert that was going to be filmed in Mexico with Santana. A job was tossed my way, but I had to refuse it for a variety of reasons.

Wow, how stupid was I? Looking at this concert I kick myself some, but I can still enjoy the experience via a DVD purchased many years later.

But, to the concert. Santana's in his element here, performing his favorites for people who know him best. His classics are played out in this excellent concert footage, which is actually an amalgamation of two different shows. Intercut with the concert are small vignettes of Santana performing in and around Mexico City. Included in this footage are faces of the people of Mexico.

I reviewed another Santana DVD that was shot here in the Bay Area. That one was a cavalcade of musicians of different styles performing their own stuff and some of Santana's well known pieces. Of the two I can't really pick and choose which I like better, but, if Santana alone is the criteria, then I'd pick this one, "Sacred Fire" as a pure Santana experience.

If you like great guitar spiced with Salsa and African overtones that characterizes Santana's forte, then, or heck, even if you just like good guitar (by that I mean non-distorted, clear chords with a clear harmony, melody and rhythm), then you must see and hear this DVD :-) Enjoy!