Nearly 40 years ago, an up-and-coming group called Santana, hailing from San Francisco and fresh off its stunning debut at the Fillmore West, landed a spot at the Woodstock music festival. The performance was again exceptional, a string of hit singles and albums followed, and the rest is history.
Today, Santana, led by guitar legend Carlos Santana, is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And tribute acts such as Se A Cabo, which plays Scranton on Friday, help celebrate the music and spirit of the renowned and eclectic musical project.
“I’ve been in bands since I was 15, and every band that I’ve ever been in, we always ended up doing three or four or five Santana songs,” says Buster Baldassari. “One day somebody said to me, ‘God, you guys do so much Santana. Why don’t you do a Santana tribute?’ That’s pretty much how it started.”
Baldassari, 53, who plays Hammond B-3 organ and keyboards in the band, says he’s been a Santana fan since Woodstock. He adds that he and all of the members of Se A Cabo have been drawn to the signature Latin beats and Latin sounds of the group.
“It’s upbeat,” he says. “And it always makes us feel good and happy.”
Se A Cabo, formed two years ago and based in Clarks Summit, also features Pat Marcinko III on timbales, percussion and vocals, Jim Clark on drums and vocals, Danny Sheerin on electric 5-string bass and vocals, Steve Corcoran on guitar and vocals, Jack Vitale on lead vocals and percussion, Dan Coyle on trumpet and percussion, Chuck Smith on trombone and percussion and Rick Statsman on congas. Baldassari says that considering the caliber of musicians known to grace the Santana lineup, the pressure is always on the 9-piece unit to be sharp.
“His players are the best,” he says of Carlos Santana. “He’s always had the best. He’s gone through changes over the years, but the group that backed him up for the ‘Supernatural’ CD is the best lineup I’ve ever seen. In fact, we have a live concert DVD from ‘06, and we do a lot of our arrangements from that same DVD.”
Such an effort, says Baldassari, requires lots of practice.
“We rehearsed about 14 months before we did our first show,” he says, adding that the band hopes limited engagements will make the gigs feel like more of an event. “We only want to go out once a month, because we don’t want to ruin it. But when we do go out, we really pack the place, and everybody loves it. We have people tell us, ‘We saw Santana in concert, and you sound just like them.’ It’s a show. The applause is phenomenal, for every single song.”
Se A Cabo offers tunes such as “Black Magic Woman,” “Evil Ways,” “Jingo,” “Yaleo,” “Smooth,” “Europa,” “Se A Cabo,” “Hold On,” “Shades Of Time” and “Oye Como Va.” No great song is left unplayed during two 75-minute sets.
“He has two greatest hits CDs, and we do every song on each one,” says Baldassari.
You’d think that as musicians, Se A Cabo would feel a great sense of responsibility, simply because they are playing the music of such highly respected musicians. But Baldassari says the desire for musical excellence comes from much closer to home.
“I’m too proud,” he says, adding that his own standards are what drive him most. “I wouldn’t go out unless it was perfect. Just to be able to do this music … you’re copying one of the greatest rock acts that’s ever been. The guy’s stood the test of time since the late ‘60s, and here it is 2008. It’s 40 years, and he’s still going, and as popular as ever.” w
Go:
Who: Santana tribute Se A Cabo
Where: Merts, 302 Penn Ave, Scranton
When: Friday, May 9 at 10 p.m.
Cost: $5
Info: 570.969.9100, www.seacabo1.com