The guitar icon's high level of music expression

By Mahes Perera

It's a long stretch from the famous Woodstock I and 'Black Magic Woman', and the haunting guitar notes of Carlos Santana. But the fans of the guitar maestro were treated to a feast when Carlos Santana and his band brought the Dubai Jazz Festival to a close on February 20.

According to a critic "it was an incredible night - the master himself going absolutely berserk along with the thousands of people losing themselves in the music. The arena was packed with fans literally up to the entrance gates, who would've definitely not been able to see the stage but just kept grooving to the legendary tunes."

They say that meeting Carlos Santana is a surreal experience. In his characteristic knee-length, snakeskin-styled leather jacket, spreading the air of confidence of an international rock star, the 66-year-old Mexican-American casts a joyful glow on everyone present which endorses the quote that he has found a place in this world.

To the Sri Lankan Latin percussionist Rasmar Lye, now playing in Dubai, being present at Carlos Santana's performance that night was a 'great never-to-be forgotten experience.'

Question: As the leader of Phase 3 your band was a familiar one at the Hilton Hotel and at other hotels in Colombo what was your impression of the performance of Santana.

Answer: The first time I saw Santana's performance was in the film Woodstock. This was during my school days and I was completely bowled over. In fact it inspired me to take to playing percussion. The second time to see him live on stage was astounding. What's more in Dubai I play with Dubai Drums the most popular percussion outfit and I was fortunate to have been chosen to be a part of a team of percussionists to perform as the preceding act for his performance at the Emirates Airlines Dubai Jazz Festival 2014.

Dubai Drums the most popular percussion outfit in the UAE was selected by Carlos Santana himself after viewing a video clip forwarded to him by the organisers Chillout Productions.

Q: How many percussionists were in this outfit and what was the duration of your performance?

A: The outfit comprised 24 members and was led by Julie-Ann Ondel, the founder of Dubai Drums. It was composed of percussionists from the United Kingdom, Ghana, Iraq, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Brazil, Afghanistan, Mexico, UAE, Tunisia, France, Zimbabwe, South Africa and myself from Sri Lanka.

The duration of the act was 60 minutes and was titled 'Drums of the World'. As a Sri Lankan I was really proud to be a part of the team that was to perform on the same stage as the guitar legend Carlos Santana and his band. Before we got an stage Santana gave the team a spiritual talk which was enlightening.

Q: How do you find playing with Dubai Drums?

A: I play the shekere and hand percussion with the outfit and I find the music they play exciting.

One of the reasons why they make me comeback to play with them is because of my timing and they have nicknamed me 'the killer shekere'.

As a point of interest the shekere that I use was braided by me, the gourd or shell is of Nigerian origin. I like to make my own instruments and I even made the Brazilian Berimbau that I use. Two years ago the Abu Dhabi National Geographic TV drafed Dubai Drums to produce a video clip for Earth Day and I was instrumental in turning out shekeres using recycled material such as plastic bottles and bottle caps.

Q: Getting back to Santana did he have his named musicians supporting him and did he play his time honoured hits for the pleasure of his fans?

A: Well, Karl Perazzo the percussionist was there including drummer Dennis Chambers, Raoul Rekow - congas and there were the trumpets and saxes to enhance the beat, another guitarist and of course his vocalist Bob Thomas, who made a hit of Smooth.

Yes he did play his favourites Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va, Maria and many of his new compositions. He is a very friendly musician, in fact even though security was guarding him closely, he broke through to reach out to his fans.

Q: Do you see a possibility of a Latin group on the style of Santana emerging on the Sri Lanka scene?

A: We have the nucleus for a drum and percussion scene and we need strong guitarists, and wind instrumentalists to sustain the sound.

I'm sure in time to come we could achieve it, if the interest is keen and dedicated.

My mentor was Giavoni Hidalgo the Cuban conga player and I like to send out my regards to the members of Phase 3 who were with me spreading the latin vibes.

They were Debbie Arnolda, Trevine Joseph, Royle de Andrews, Shaman, Sudath Munaweera and Udaya Welikala. I'm glad I came back to music after my soujourn in Australia and for this I must say a silent thank you to the late Joe Tambimuttu for pushing me back into the music scene.

We wonder whether Sri Lankan fans will have the opportunity of seeing Carlos Santana live in our country.

In an interview before his performance in Dubai, Santana was asked the question "Do you see Santana the band celebrating their 50th anniversary like The Rolling Stones, soon or even going beyond? Santana replied.

"Going beyond. I celebrate with them. I celebrate because this legacy is incredible.

In 1965 on the radio there were only two songs that were the highest - Satisfaction and Light My Fire by the Doors. You play those two songs right now, four times on the radio, and they will be number one again.

The youngsters will go 'What's that?' because when all's said and done, it really is about the songs. I'm here because of the songs, so if people pay attention to the songs, the songs will keep you.... relevant. Beyond time and space and gravity."