TITLE: Multi-Dimensional Warrior (Columbia/Legacy)

ARTIST: Santana

STARS: 4 1/2 Out Of 5 Stars

SOUNDS LIKE: Highly spiritual jazz rock that encompasses all faiths.

When many people think of the music of Carlos Santana and his band Santana, they usually think of Latin-tinged pop hits like 1969’s “Evil Ways,” and 1970s “Black Magic Woman.”

But sometimes during the late 1970s the Santana style changed. It took on a more jazzier, spiritual approach.

“Multi-Dimensional Warrior” a unique two CD collection capture this spiritual side of the man and his band. The music spans three decades of Santana with the music personally selected by Carlos himself.

Disc one features 14 vocal cuts ranging from the Christian influenced “Serpents and Doves” to the high-spirited “Brotherhood.”

Alex Ligertwood, longtime Santana vocalist, has a majestic anthem sounding voice that’s the perfect vehicle for interpreting this spirited-filled music. Songs with lyrics that are as uplifting as they are creatively inspiring in their search for hope in a troubled world.

Disc two features all instrumental cuts. A mix of high energy and extended jazz jams with Carlos Santana’s signature high-pitched guitar sound providing the vocals over shimmering almost New Age sounding tunes.

“Bella” and the mournful “Blues for Salvador” are personal favorites.

The CD art features icons from each of the world’s religions. And that is the same approach Multi-Dimensional Warrior takes musically. It’s full of Middle Eastern, Latin and America musical influences and the songs and lyrics are taken from tenets of different religions. It works in that it shows that we’re not as far apart as we might think.

An excellent CD.