Santana with The Doobie Brothers at the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

The Oneness Tour 2026

Wantagh, NY

July 2, 2026

By Mike Perciaccante

Carlos Santana is a national treasure. The band leader and guitarist was born on July 20, 1947 in Mexico. He is the founder and leader of his eponymously named rock band. Santana.  During his career, Santana (the man) has won 13 Grammy Awards. 

The guitarist rose to fame in the late 60s and early 70s when he and his band emerged from the San Francisco scene with its spectacular fusion of Rock, Blues, Jamband, Pop, Funk, R&B and Latin Jazz. Melodic and driving, Santana’s music features searing guitar work layered over syncopated African rhythms.

Over the years, Santana, the band, has undergone numerous lineup changes. The only constant member is the iconic Carlos Santana. The guitarist and band cemented its place in history with its appearance at the legendary Woodstock music festival in 1969 as well as the group’s opening salvo of its first three albums: Santana (1969), Abraxas (1970), and Santana III (1971). Each is a classic.

The Doobie Brothers were founded in 1970 in San Jose, CA by Guitarists Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston. The Doobie Brothers are another band whose membership is a revolving door of great musicians.

The band’s wonderfully crafted sound is a marvelous musical gumbo that melds Rock with Boogie-Woogie, Swamp-Pop, Americana, Country, Funk, Jazz, Gospel with a cherry on top of Blues. The Doobie Brothers have sold countless missions of albums worldwide. The band has won numerous Grammy Awards in addition to its many studio and live albums. Additionally, it has released a number of “Best Of” collections and boxed sets.

On a cool breezy evening (following a blisteringly hot day) at the intimate Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theatre, The Doobie Brothers opened and got right down to it with a rousing version of “Rockin’ Down The Highway.” On this night, the band featured official members: Simmons, Johnston, guitarist John McFee and keyboard wizard Michael McDonald along with John Cowan on bass, Ed Toth on drums and Marc Russo on saxophone and Marc Quiñones on percussion.

The Doobies’ sixteen song set spread out over a fabulous hour-and-a-half featured a career-spanning song cycle that delivered almost every tune that would satisfy any fan (passing or die-hard). Highlights included: “Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While),” “It Keeps you Runnin’,” “Minute by Minute,” “Jesus I Just Alright,” “What A Fool Believes,” a ferocious version of “China Grove,” and “Black Water.”  

For the entire show, the band was tight as could be and having a blast while it gave its fans a chance to dance, sing along and party in the aisles. All-too-quickly, the performance ended with blow-the-doors-off versions of “Takin’ It To The Streets” and “Listen To The Music.”

Following a short intermission, Carlos Santana and his band took the stage. On this tour, the band featured ten musicians: the soon to be 77-year-old Santana on lead guitar; his wife the powerhouse Cindy Blackman Santana on the drums; Andy Vargas on vocals; Ray Greene on vocals and trombone; bass master Benny Rietveld; David K. Mathews on keyboards; Karl Perazzo on percussion; Paoli Mejías on percussion and Tommy Anthony on guitar and vocals.

The band wowed the crowd with its traditional opener “Soul Sacrifice.” Santana and company then followed up with “Jingo,” and segued into “Evil Ways,” with a touch of Steely Dan’s “Do It Again.”

Other highlights (and there were many) of the 17-song main set included: ‘Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen,” “Oye Cómo Va,” an extended, innovative and riveting bass and drum solo from Benny Rietveld and Cindy Blackman Santana that featured snippets of both “Roundabout” by Yes and “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath, The O’Jays’ “I Love Music” (featuring a cameo by The Doobie Brothers’ core members), “She’s Not There,” “Put Your Lights On” “Corazón Espinado” and “Maria, Maria.”

The three-hour performance ended with the stellar trio of encores. Savior/Toussaint L'Ouverture, another fantastic Drum solo by Cindy Blackman Santana, this time featuring band introductions and a terrific version of the smash single “Smooth” which ended the magical evening.

The paring of Santana with the Doobie Brother’s was a stroke of genius. The two groups have previously toured together with amazing results. On this tour the combination has again proved to be magical. Let’s hope that these two powerhouses continue to tour together to delight their fans.