Carlos Santana was originally in his own wing of the Latin Rock Hall of Fame, neither playing Afro-Cuban with rock guitar, as did
Malo, nor flavoring mainstream rock with percussion, as did
Chicago. His first record, as with the best fusion, created something a little different than just a mixture -- a new style that, surprisingly, remains all his own. Granted that Latin music has seeped into the mainstream since, but why aren't
Van Halen and
Metallica listening to this? Where they simmer,
Santana boils over.
–
Carl Hoyt, Rovi