Cindy Blackman Santana On Her New Album “Give The Drummer Some,” Future Plans & More
During her illustrious career, drummer Cindy Blackman Santana has performed with a prestigious and diverse group of top-tier artists. This includes Lenny Kravitz, Ron Carter, Bill Laswell, Joss Stone, Wallace Roney, Buckethead, Angela Bofill, Vernon Reid, Jack Bruce, Jackie McLean, Don Pullen, Buster Williams and husband Carlos Santana. She has released a string of critically and commercially-hailed solo albums. The latest of those solo albums is Give The Drummer Some, as helmed with award-winning producer Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Journey).
3 years in the making, Give The Drummer Some is a rapturous testament to Cindy Blackman Santana’s unparalleled musicianship and compositional mastery. Featuring 17 tracks — both instrumentals and vocal songs — Give The Drummer Some includes appearances by the likes of Mahavishu Orchestra legend John McLaughlin, Living Colour’s Vernon Reid and Metallica’s Kirk Hammett. The record’s first single is an extraordinary rock-funk re-imagining of John Lennon’s classic “Imagine,” featuring a wicked guitar solo by Carlos Santana, and benefits WhyHunger’s Rapid Response Fund; goodwill aside, Blackman Santana’s take on “Imagine” happens to be approved by Yoko Ono Lennon.
On September 22, 2020, I had the pleasure of speaking with Cindy Blackman Santana via Zoom, as embedded below. Beyond Give The Drummer Some, we spoke about her singing, life during COVID-19, hobbies outside of music, and long-term goals. More on Blackman Santana can be found online via www.cindyblackmansantana.com and www.facebook.com/CindyBlackmanDrummer.
About the Author
Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
Related Posts
Sudan’s Musical Maestro Ryte Signs with Rotana Music →
George Clinton Honored with Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame →
Single Review: British-Jamaican Artist Alexia Gardner Impresses on the Cover of Jazz Track ‘Great Day’ →
