Las Vegas Weekly

February 7, 2010 · 9:28 AM

Photo Gallery: Andre Agassi’s drum line students perform with Santana

By Robin Leach

The Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy drum line performs with Carlos Santana in The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on Feb. 6, 2010.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana was greeted on Thursday by the student drum line during his visit to Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy here, and his tour was conducted by the tennis superstar and our hometown hero himself with wife tennis legend Steffi Graf accompanying them.

Carlos was so moved by their rousing performance three days ago that last night, he invited them to star with him onstage at his resident headliner concert in The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. A proud Andre and Steffi Graf were on hand to watch their special performance.

When Carlos posed for a backstage photo with the philanthropic couple, he said: “I’m standing between greatness.” Our Senior Editor John Katsilometes attended the concert last night and tweeted from the Hard Rock venue. He also wrote about Carlos’ tour at the prep academy this past week.

Photographer Denise Truscello was there to record the night, as was contributing photographer Erik Kabik, who said about the exciting night:

“The drum line entered The Joint while playing through the audience and went up onto the stage, where they performed the opening number with Carlos. Andre Agassi and Steffi Graff were in attendance, and Carlos stopped at one point during the show to introduce them to the audience. Carlos reflected on his experience, as he has become more and more acquainted with Las Vegas. He spoke of the generosity of the people he has met in Las Vegas and noted his associations with Three Square food bank and most recently his partnership with the Andre Agassi Foundation.

“Having the unique opportunity to see Supernatural Santana six times since the beginning of its run, this was one of the most energetic, powerful nights of his residency run to date. It was a packed house tonight at The Joint, and Carlos was shredding solos on his Paul Reed Smith custom guitars.

“It feels like Santana is more comfortable than ever in The Joint, and it is reflected in the music. It’s not just a venue where he is playing a show; it’s his room, and he commands it. The show evolves over time, and the sets change, making it a great show to go back and revisit during its various runs.”

Santana’s upcoming shows at The Joint are scheduled for Feb. 10, 12, 13, 14 and 17.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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