Santana offers fans a "Multi Dimensional" valentine

By Jonathan Cohen

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Guitarist Carlos Santana says his new compilation, "Multi Dimensional Warrior," is "a love letter to fans" -- as well as a reminder that his repertoire includes more than the hit duets he's been releasing since 1999's "Supernatural."

"For me it's very clearly something that comes from my heart," Santana told Billboard.

The artist personally supervised the compilation of the two-disc, career-spanning "Warrior," as well as the artwork and package design. Due September 30 on Columbia/Legacy, the set features 28 songs from 1970 to 2002.

"I basically turned it all in, the complete finished work," Santana said. He also added some new overdubs to five of the songs, putting guitar on "Spirit" and "Right Now," while Santana band member Chester "C.T." Thompson played new piano parts for "Let There Be Light" and Barbara Higbie played fresh harmonica for that song and "Praise."

"Warrior" is just one of "a lot of things that we're doing," according to Santana. He has put his proposed "The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost" three-CD set "on hold for right now" but is working on a new project with producer/record executive Clive Davis, a longtime collaborator, that Santana said features "no guests, just guitar" and is still in its formative stages.

He also expects to record another "Supernatural" type of album but "not for a while, maybe two years from now."

Reuters/Billboard