Carlos Santana Says New Album He Made with Ronald Isley Is Almost Finished and “

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Credit: Adriano ScognamilloCarlos Santana recently announced that around the same time he made Santana IV, the new studio album reuniting most of his band’s original members, he began work on another recording project with famed Isley Brothers singer Ronald Isley. Carlos now has shared an update about the latter album’s status.

“We just about finished it,” he told ABC Radio. “[We recorded] 16 songs in four days, [and] I wish I could see your eyes and your face when you listen to the whole album. It’s unbelievable.”

Santana also revealed that among the other musicians who contributed to the album were lauded session keyboardist Greg Phillinganes; two current members of his group, including his wife, drummer Cindy Blackman; and guitarist Ernie Isley, Ronald’s brother and fellow Isley Brothers band mate.

The project came about after Ronald Isley lent guest vocals to two songs on Santana IV, which was released this past April. Santana IV featured Carlos teaming up with former Santana singer/keyboardist Gregg Rolie, drummer Michael Shrieve, percussionist Michael Carabello and guitarist Neal Schon for the first time since the early 1970s.

While the musicians have only played a handful of special shows to promote the record so far, Carlos told ABC Radio that he “absolutely” expects to release more new music with his old band mates.

“There’s a lot of music that we recorded that needs to be completed,” he revealed. “And yes, we had a ball and we plan on definitely doing Santana Five, Six and Seven, hopefully.”

First up for Carlos, however, will be a recently reported one-off performance this Wednesday at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles with his new jazz-fusion supergroup Mega Nova. The band also features jazz greats Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, as well as Carlos’ wife, Cindy.

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