Santana Changes His Ways

After a three-decade career packed with critical acclaim and commercial landmarks, Carlos Santana might not have anything to prove. But you wouldn’t know it from his first studio album in almost a decade.

Santana’s guitar soars throughout the vigorous “Supernatural” (due in stores Tuesday), stimulated by a host of young guest artists, from Wyclef Jean and Matchbox 20’s Rob Thomas to Dave Matthews and producer K.C. Porter. All of them enhance the album in multiple and unexpected ways.

Lauryn Hill introduces rap to the Santana universe on the soulful “Do You Like the Way.” Everlast gives him a taste of grunge aggression on “Put Your Lights On.” And rock en espan~ol group Mana adjusts well to the aesthetic at hand on the salsa-tinged “Corazon Espinado.”

There’s only the slightest hint that the guitarist’s meeting with all this younger talent is a calculated move to help him renew his commercial credibility. Actually, the guests’ most vital contribution is forcing Santana to focus on his miraculous guitar, reducing the new-age tendencies of his more recent albums to a minimum.

Most of “Supernatural” triumphs by combining inspiring guitar solos with ‘90s coolness. It is also Santana’s most Latin-sounding album to date. Not quite the religious experience of “Incident at Neshabur,” but almost there.

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