A fearless new statement from one of today’s most dynamic drummers, composers and bandleaders
After months of anticipation fueled by singles “Illumination” and “The Message Is Love,” drummer, composer, and bandleader Cindy Blackman Santana releases her highly anticipated new album, Coherence, this Friday, July 31, via Mack Avenue Records.
A bold, genre-defying work that bridges jazz, rock, fusion, funk, and improvisation, Coherence captures Blackman Santana’s unmistakable East Coast musical sensibility while embracing the fearless spirit that has defined her career. Recorded with an exceptional ensemble featuring saxophonist Emilio Modeste, guitarist Aurélien Budynek, bassist Felix Pastorius, and keyboardist Zaccai Curtis, the album is both deeply rooted in jazz tradition and relentlessly forward-looking.
The album has already drawn praise ahead of its release. In his Dark Forces Swing Substack, Hank Shteamer described Coherence as “a clear throwback to the early days of jazz-rock fusion that, unlike so many subsequent attempts at recapturing this vibe, retained a real sense of risk,” adding that Blackman Santana and her band “crank up and rip exactly as they do onstage.” Glide Magazine praised the record’s “highly energetic” performances, while Stereogum’s Phil Freeman highlighted album standout “The Message Is Love,” calling it “a heavy, stomping fusion piece with an absolutely Godzilla-esque backbeat” featuring “squalling soprano sax trading off with the screaming guitars.”
The album’s second single, “The Message Is Love,” features special appearances by Carlos Santana and Snoop Dogg, whose unexpected yet compelling musical chemistry first reached millions of viewers through ESPN’s Monday Night Football theme, “In the Air Tonight.” On Coherence, their collaboration takes on a new dimension, blending Carlos Santana’s soaring guitar with Blackman Santana’s commanding rhythmic foundation and an unmistakable message of unity.
“Music is vibration. It can heal, uplift, inspire, and connect us beyond our differences. My hope is that Coherence reminds people of the power we have when we truly listen, to ourselves and to one another,” says Cindy Blackman Santana.
Known internationally for her explosive artistry behind the drum kit and her fearless musical vision, Blackman Santana has built a career that effortlessly spans jazz clubs, rock arenas, and concert halls. From her groundbreaking work with Lenny Kravitz to decades of collaboration with Carlos Santana and an acclaimed body of solo recordings—beginning with Arcane (1987) up to her previous solo album Give the Drummer Some (2020)—she has continually expanded the possibilities of modern drumming while remaining one of music’s most adventurous composers.
With Coherence, Blackman Santana delivers perhaps her most complete artistic statement to date: an album driven by trust, spontaneity, and fearless collaboration. Rather than fitting neatly into a single genre, the record celebrates the beauty that emerges when diverse musical voices come together with a shared purpose.
Coherence is available everywhere NOW via Mack Avenue Records.
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