Cindy Blackman Santana Shares “Illumination”

Article Contributed by Missing Piece Group

Published on 2026-06-08

Cindy Blackman Santana Shares “Illumination”

Acclaimed drummer, composer, bandleader, and vocalist Cindy Blackman Santana will release her new solo album, Coherence, on July 31 via Mack Avenue Records, led by the first single, “Illumination,” out June 5. Blending spiritual jazz, fusion, rock, and improvisation, Coherence brings together an extraordinary cast of musicians—including Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin, Matt Garrison, Ray Angry, Dave Eggar, and Blackman Santana’s touring band—for a fearless and deeply collaborative record driven by rhythmic interplay, expansive improvisation, and dynamic live energy.

Listen To “Illumination”
https://lnk.to/cbsilluminationPR

The album’s lead single, “Illumination,” draws a spotlight to the interplay between Blackman Santana and her band. Her drumming rolls and roars at all the right moments as saxophone, guitar, and bass push deeper into a fluid and dynamic musical exchange.

“It was actually our first time ever playing ‘Illumination,’” she says. “To me, it brings a lot of freshness and energy. I hope you feel the cohesiveness of how we interact together. The title is about bringing brightness to the forefront of people’s minds and hearts. The coming together of the musicians represents the coming together of all people.”

Coherence arrives nearly four decades after Blackman Santana introduced herself as a bandleader with her 1987 debut, Arcane. In the years since, she has released numerous acclaimed recordings and built one of the most distinctive careers in contemporary music, earning acclaim across jazz, fusion, and rock while continually expanding her voice as a composer, drummer, vocalist, and performer.

She recorded Coherence at The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas during late 2024 alongside her trusted touring band—Emilio Modeste [saxophone], Aurelien Budynek [guitar], Zaccai Curtis [keyboards], and Felix Pastorius [bass]. At the same time, she assembled an elite cohort of collaborators to round out her vision, including Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin, bassist Matt Garrison, keyboardist Ray Angry, cellist Dave Eggar, and more.

In support of the album, Blackman Santana will perform at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park on July 24 as part of the festival’s 2026 season (bricartsmedia.org). She will also spend the summer on the road as drummer for Santana on the Santana and The Doobie Brothers Oneness Tour, while continuing Santana’s multi-year residency at House of Blues Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, with additional September residency dates.

About Cindy Blackman Santana:
Cindy Blackman Santana is a virtuoso drummer, composer, and bandleader whose fearless artistry bridges jazz, rock, funk, and beyond. Renowned for the power, nuance, and emotional depth of her playing, she has performed and recorded with artists including Santana, Lenny Kravitz, Pharoah Sanders, Cassandra Wilson, Joe Henderson, Vernon Reid, John McLaughlin, and the Isley Brothers. Since joining Santana full-time in 2016, her drumming has been featured on multiple albums, including Africa Speaks and Blessings and Miracles. Her acclaimed solo work—including Give the Drummer Some and her latest album, Coherence—showcases her expansive vision as both a drummer and vocalist, blending spiritual jazz, rock, and improvisational music into a sound entirely her own.

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Coherence Tracklist

1. Illumination
2. Blue Whale
3. The Message is Love feat. Carlos Santana
4. Coherence Tapestry
5. Coherence feat. Carlos Santana
6. Coherence Embrace
7. Peace Please
8. Psychedelic Movie House feat. Carlos Santana
9. Guitar Love feat. Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin
10. Capri feat. Carlos Santana
11. SyZyGy
12. Circe
13. Eclipse
14. Soon a Queen
15. Sunday
16. Music
17. Sanctuary feat. Carlos Santana

Cindy Blackman Santana Tour Dates

Fri, Jul 24 – BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! – Brooklyn, NY
Mon, Sept 7 – Detroit Jazz Festival – Detroit, MI

Santana & The Doobie Brothers 2026 Tour Dates

Sat, Jun 13 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Mon, Jun 15 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater
Wed, Jun 17 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Thu, Jun 18 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Sat, Jun 20 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
Sun, Jun 21 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Wed, Jun 24 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Fri, Jun 26 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
Sat, Jun 27 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Mon, Jun 29 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Wed, Jul 1 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Thu, Jul 2 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Sat, Jul 4 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Sun, Jul 5 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
Wed, Jul 8 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater
Thu, Jul 9 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Thu, Aug 6 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Sat, Aug 8 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
Sun, Aug 9 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Tue, Aug 11 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Thu, Aug 13 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Fri, Aug 14 – Phoenix, AZ – Mortgage Matchup Center
Sun, Aug 16 – El Paso, TX – UTEP Don Haskins Center
Tue, Aug 18 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
Fri, Aug 21 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sat, Aug 22 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
*Mon, Aug 24 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
Wed, Aug 26 – Kansas City, MO – Morton Amphitheater
Thu, Aug 27 – Shakopee, MN – Mystic Lake Amphitheater