Cindy Blackman Santana Enters a Dynamic New Chapter Jensen Communications
September 22, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA (September 22, 2026) – Following the release of her acclaimed new album Coherence, drummer, composer, and bandleader Cindy Blackman Santana is carrying its fearless, genre-crossing spirit into a major new season of music, from a fourth consecutive year anchoring ESPN’s Monday Night Football anthem to the launch of The Power of 3 with Orianthi and Rhonda Smith, alongside headline performances in Willimantic, CT, Baltimore, and New York, and dates with Santana in Las Vegas.
ESPN announced last week that Blackman Santana and Chris Stapleton will return for the fourth consecutive season of Monday Night Football’s reimagined “In the Air Tonight,” joined this year by Grammy Award-winning rapper, actor, and entrepreneur Ludacris. Blackman Santana’s signature drum change has become a defining part of the opening since its 2023 debut. The refreshed anthem premiered September 14 as the Denver Broncos faced the Kansas City Chiefs and will open each Monday Night Football game throughout ESPN’s Super Bowl LXI season.
The ESPN news comes as Coherence continues to showcase the depth, power, and range of Blackman Santana’s artistry. Recent profiles in JazzTimes and Stereophile have explored both her expansive musical history and the creative philosophy behind the album, from the influence of mentors Art Blakey and Tony Williams to her emphasis on melody, spirituality, improvisation, and the chemistry of musicians creating together. Released July 31 via Mack Avenue Records, Coherence brings jazz, rock, fusion, funk, and improvisation into a volatile, deeply connected whole. 48 Hills called it “a jazz-rock funk heater of an album,” while Bandcamp Daily wrote that Coherence finds her in “full-on jazz-rock mode,” channeling “furious momentum and instrumental precision.”
Recorded with saxophonist Emilio Modeste, guitarist Aurélien Budynek, bassist Felix Pastorius, and keyboardist Zaccai Curtis, Coherence also features guest appearances by Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin. Across its 17 tracks, Blackman Santana leads from the drums with power, openness, and a commitment to the musical conversation unfolding in real time.
“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 Blackman Santana.
That spirit of high-level musical exchange also drives The Power of 3, Blackman Santana’s newly announced trio with guitarist and vocalist Orianthi and bassist Rhonda Smith. The group will release its self-titled debut album December 11 via She2Music. Produced by legendary producer and engineer Eddie Kramer and recorded entirely in analog, the album captures the raw chemistry of three musicians whose collective credits include Michael Jackson, Prince, Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Beyoncé, Lenny Kravitz, Santana, and Pharoah Sanders. Its first double single, “War In The Streets” and “Treat Me Like A Lady,” is out now, and the album features a special guest appearance by Carlos Santana.
This fall, audiences can also hear Blackman Santana in the intimate settings where her music takes on its most spontaneous form. The Cindy Blackman Santana Trio, with Benny Rietveld and Aureline Budynek, performs on October 23 at Fine Arts Center, Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Connecticut, followed by two nights at Keystone Korner in Baltimore, October 24–25, with Ravi Coltrane and Zaccai Curtis joining the trio. The band featuring Aurlelien Budynek, Marc Cary, Benny Rietveld, Emilio Modeste and JD Allen will perform three nights at New York’s Blue Note, December 4–6. She also returns to the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay for Santana’s September and November residency dates.
From Coherence and Monday Night Football to The Power of 3 and her upcoming performances, this season reflects the full breadth of Blackman Santana’s artistry, carrying her from intimate jazz clubs to rock stages and one of television’s largest audiences.
Photo by Denise Truscello
Upcoming Performances:
September 23, 24, 26, 27 — Santana — House of Blues at Mandalay Bay — Las Vegas, NV
October 23 — Fine Arts Center, Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Connecticut
October 24–25 — Cindy Blackman Santana Band — Keystone Korner — Baltimore, MD
November 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15 — Santana — House of Blues at Mandalay Bay — Las Vegas, NV
December 4–6 — Cindy Blackman Santana Band — Blue Note — New York, NY
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.
