Santana & Shorter - Live at the 1988 Montreux Jazz Festival

Two legendary artists are showcased in this well produced capture of a 1988 concert performance. No matter what your genre preference, this DVD is worth having for the high quality of the musicianship by all of the performers involved.

Rock guitarist Carlos Santana and jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter were each on tour back in 1987. The two pals happened to run into one another when their tour schedules crossed one night in Atlanta.

On a whim, Santana suggested that they start a rumor that the two of them were forming their own band. With a wink and a nod, Shorter agreed that it sounded like fun.

Some rumor. A few months later, the two set out on a 26 date tour of the US and Europe. On July 14, 1988 Santana and Shorter took the stage at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. The now very real Santana-Shorter Band also included Chester Thompson and Patrice Rushen on keyboards, Alphonso Johnson on bass, Armando Peraza on congas, Jose Chepito Areas on timbales and Leon "Ndugu" Chancler on drums.

Some of the greatest rock drummers, like Rush's Neil Peart and Cream's Ginger Baker have deep roots in jazz. It's not unusual, then, that some of the most memorable solo performances in this set were turned in by percussionists Ndugu Chancler, Armando Peraza and Jose Chepito Areas.

There's great chemistry between Santana and Shorter, and it's apparent when they are playing together. After watching this DVD, you can appreciate why the suggestion of a Santana-Shorter Band wasn't so far-fetched after all.

A two-CD version has a March 27, 2007 release date.