Latin jazz guitarist Juan Carlos Quintero is reconnecting with the music that shaped his childhood on his latest album, The Story of Love, available now through Moondo Music (BFD/The Orchard). The project marks Quintero’s 13th studio release and finds the Colombian-born musician breathing fresh life into beloved romantic Latin standards from the 1950s and 1960s.
For Quintero, the album is deeply personal. Growing up in Medellín, he often heard these melodies playing throughout his family home from his parents’ stereo and his father’s piano. At the time, his focus was fixed on mastering rock guitar riffs inspired by legends like Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. Years later, while selecting material for a new recording project, he realized those same songs from his childhood had stayed with him and continued influencing his artistic direction.
Blending expressive electric guitar work with lush Latin rhythms and jazz improvisation, Quintero co-produced the album alongside Guillermo Guzmán. The recording features his accomplished quartet, including Eddie Resto on upright bass, Aaron Serfaty on drums and percussion, Joey Deleon on percussion, and Joe Rotondi on piano. GRAMMY®-nominated musicians Justo Almario and Luis Conte also make standout guest appearances throughout the album.
The collection opens with “Poodle Mambo,” featuring Almario’s airy flute melodies, immediately setting the tone for a sophisticated journey through Latin jazz traditions. Quintero credits legendary pianist George Shearing as a major influence on the project, particularly Shearing’s late-1950s Latin jazz recordings that merged melodic elegance with rhythmic complexity. Quintero says those recordings expanded his understanding of how the guitar could function within Latin jazz and inspired him to reinterpret that style through his own musical voice.
Classic standards receive vibrant new interpretations across the album. “Poinciana,” famously recorded by artists such as Ahmad Jamal, Sonny Rollins, Frank Sinatra, and Dave Brubeck, became a centerpiece for Quintero because of its timeless melodic strength and adaptability. He notes that regardless of arrangement or tempo, the song’s emotional impact always remains intact.
Another highlight, “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise,” reflects Quintero’s admiration for guitarist John Scofield. Hearing Scofield’s interpretation during his years studying at Berklee College of Music opened new creative possibilities for him as a guitarist. On The Story of Love, Quintero reshapes the standard into a vibrant Cha-Cha-Cha arrangement that merges jazz sophistication with infectious Latin grooves.
The album’s emotional center arrives with “Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars),” a song closely tied to Quintero’s memories of his father playing Antonio Carlos Jobim compositions around the house. Looking back, Quintero now sees those moments as foundational to the musician he would become. Recording and performing these songs, he says, feels less like revisiting the past and more like honoring his father’s musical legacy.
Another standout track, “The Moon Was Yellow (and The Night Was Young),” transforms the classic tune into a romantic Cuban Danzón inspired by Frank Sinatra’s legendary phrasing and Nelson Riddle’s iconic arrangements. Luis Conte’s percussion performance drives the track’s graceful movement and emotional warmth.
Throughout the album, Quintero explores multiple traditional Latin styles, from boleros and mambos to cha-cha-cha and danzón rhythms. Songs like “Tres Palabras,” “Yours (Quiéreme Mucho),” and “Cuban Love Song” showcase the project’s balance of refined arrangements, heartfelt performances, and rhythmic sophistication.
Closing the album is the title track, “The Story of Love (Historia De Un Amor),” dedicated to Quintero’s wife, Viviana. Featuring Almario’s expressive clarinet work, the song captures the romance and devotion that inspired the album’s overarching theme. Quintero describes the piece as a reflection of enduring love and the beauty that meaningful relationships bring into life.
Quintero’s musical journey began at age eight, eventually leading him to Berklee College of Music and later the New England Conservatory, where he studied composition with George Russell. After moving to Los Angeles, he released his debut album in 1990 featuring legendary guitarist Tommy Tedesco of The Wrecking Crew. Over the decades, Quintero built a respected career blending jazz, Latin, and world music influences while also establishing Moondo Music in 2000.
Beyond performing and recording, Quintero has become a respected educator and music industry professional. He has taught jazz, composition, and music business courses at several colleges and currently serves as head of the music business program at the University of Tennessee. His career also expanded into television production, where he supervised music and rights management for projects connected to Saban Brands, including Power Rangers, Julius Jr., and Glitter Force.
With The Story of Love, Quintero hopes listeners will rediscover timeless melodies through the lens of Latin rhythm and culture. He believes rhythms like mambo, bolero, cha-cha-cha, and danzón have the power to transport audiences to places where romance, passion, and celebration come alive through music and dance.
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