*“I have multiple things going on with Santana,” said Cindy Blackman, drummer for the Carlos Santana Band, about her upcoming projects during a talk with The Pulse of Entertainment. “We start up in May. HOB (House of Blues) for a summer tour….and he’s (Carlos) is working on a new release.”
Cindy is a Jazz/Rock drummer who has played for many artists and musicians. She is known for playing with Lenny Kravitz from 1992 – 2007, 2014, and 2015. She met Carlos in 2010 when she replaced his drummer Dennis Chambers and became the regular drummer for the Carlos Santana Band. That same year she and Carlos married.
“I’m just in the beginning stages,” Cindy Blackman Santana told me when I asked about her upcoming solo project. “I’m finding music. My last record couple tracks didn’t go on…at least one of those (is going on the new project).”
Cindy started drumming at the very young age of three banging on anything she could find. She said she thought about studying law and even being a brain surgeon, but the time it would take she just was not willing to take that time away from her first love – drumming. Cindy grew up to perform as a drummer for many iconic singers and musicians such as Joss Stone, Cassandra Wilson, and Angela Bofill, as well as her Cindy Blackman Quartet. Then of course she started to work for Lenny Kravitz and then the Carlos Santana Band. Blackman said one song for her upcoming solo project is done and it’s called “Guitar Love,” featuring Carlos Santana.
“I’m getting the band and studio together to record the rest,” she said when I asked about the album’s status.
In 2017 Carlos Santana and Cindy Blackman produced the Isley Brothers album “Power of Peace.” Cindy, along with Rhonda Smith (bass) and Orianthi (lead guitar) have a sought of trio band and will be performing at the Hard Rock Vegas May 10, 11, 15, 18, 19, 22, and 23, 2024. Blackman also has a show on March 14th in Philadelphia at the Soul Jazz Korner and March 15th at the Carlyle in Washington, DC with her band.
You can also hear Cindy’s drums on VW (Volkswagen) commercials and can see her doing her masterful drumming in the 2023 ESPN’s Monday Night Football New Anthem opening segment also featuring Chris Stapleton and Snoop Dogg.
“This (her, Rhonda, and Orienthi) is a fun band,” Blackman added. “We come together to do shows. We had one on March 7 at the Hard Rock Vegas, a women’s charity. I also did my first show at a Super Bowl after-party!”
Her regular band, the Cindy Blackman Santana Band, consists of Emilio Modeste (sax), Aurelien Budynek (guitar), Zaccai Curtis (keyboards/piano), Felix Pastorius (bass), David Gilma (guitar), Marc Cary (keyboard), Vernon Reid (guitar), and JD Allen (tenor sax). Blackman’s last project was “Give the Drummer Some” which offered 17 tracks and featured assistance from John McLaughlin (guitar), Matthew Garrison (bass), Vernon Reid (guitar), Kirk Hammett (guitar), Bill Ortiz (trumpeter) and Neal Evans.
“I love playing solo but when you have a great band you don’t have to,” Cindy said when I asked about any solo drum performances on the upcoming album. “I want every voice heard.” www.CindyBlackmanSantana.com
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Business Management/Public Relations Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com EVENTS: “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is into its 25th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday April 20, 2024, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 9, 2024. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $19,000 valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.comor to RSVP for Zoom Access at EventBrite.com or email info@ThePulseofEntertainment.com.
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