Santana in Milano, Italy, on 21th July 2016
I was dreaming to see Santana since childhood even before I got a guitar in my hands, so the gig was something personal to me. The show was great, starting surprisingly without a warm-up band. Carlos Santana appeared as an iconic guitar player saying long speeches about light, love and peace all around the world. The show was interesting as a musical event because all players were equally interesting for hearing their solo parts. As a guitar player, I was mostly focusing on solo guitar and at the same time I was amazed by super talented keyboardist David K. Matthews. He brings interesting solutions and improvisations to all Santana songs. Bravo! On the next day after the show, I met Carlos Santana at the heart of Milano, which is usually overcrowded by tourists and shoppers. It was as if you found a needle in a haystack, a one in a million chance! I waited whilst he finished with food and walked away from the cafe. At that moment some men asked him to have a photo. Then I came and asked his bodyguards to let me take a picture with Carlos, noting that I had traveled to Milano especially for his concert and it will not take more than three seconds. And [dramatic pause] they refused, mentioning that they are having a day off. Carlos was staring into the floor pretending I was not there - ‘nothing personal just business’. At that moment the world of legendary Santana was ruined inside me and I got the feeling that all that friendly attitude is a part of the show and means nothing in reality. It must be noted that during more than an hour just three people recognized him including me, not much as for such a pop star being in the most popular public place. Does he hate young fans that travel the world just to see him once in a lifetime? I don’t know, but I could not find the right words to tell it to my guitar teacher whom I asked to teach me to play like Santana many years ago. I couldn’t play his solos for a while.
It is to be noted that we do not mean any negativity, the musical skills cannot be faulted, this simply refers to a difference of minds.
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