Son of Carlos, Salvador Santana headlining Utah venue on his own

Latin instrumentalist and keyboardist Salvador Santana has an impressive pedigree.

He is the son of Carlos Santana and the grandson of Saunders, a blues icon, and Jose Santana, a legendary violinist and mariachi bandleader.

In a phone interview, Salvador said his father taught him how to drum when he was 3. "My father thought it was imperative to learn rhythm and tempo," he said.

But it was the piano, which he discovered at age 7, that turned him on. "It resonated with me. It made sense."

After leading the Salvador Santana Band for a half-decade, Santana went on his own and released the genre-defying "Keyboard City" in 2010.

It received rave reviews for the way his spoken-word vocal style flowed alongside his jazz- and blues-inspired compositions.

Santana is releasing new songs off a forthcoming EP, including "Into the Light" and a song dedicated to his grandmother, "Mi Tesoro."

"I'm honoring my lineage and history," Santana said. "I'm at a place where I'm learning so much. I don't really want to settle."

When • Tuesday, March 5, 6:30 p.m.Where • In The Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake CityTickets • $11.50 at SmithsTix