Classic Rock

The Isley Brothers & Santana

Power Of Peace LEGACY/SONY

- Julian Marszalek

A new millennium love-in.

Surely only a churl would baulk at the sentiments presented on the title of this pairing of titans whose reputation­s were forged in the heady days of the 1960s?

While the Isleys are in fine voice throughout, and Carlos Santana’s mastery of his instrument remains as idiosyncra­tic as ever, your enjoyment of this collection of covers (and one new song) will rather depend on your relationsh­ip with the originals.

The winners prove to be the moments where the participan­ts hold back on the bombast to groove. Billie Holliday’s God Bless This Child is silky smooth. Elsewhere, Curtis Mayfield’s Gypsy Woman perfectly fuses Santana’s Latin tones with those celestial Isley voices. Best of all is Cindy Blackman Santana’s original

I Remember, that points to future possibilit­ies.

Alas, Stevie Wonder’s Higher Ground suffers from heavyhande­dness, a fate that awaits

I Just Want To Make Love To You.

Not quite a harvest for the world but no spoilt crops either.

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