Home » Jazz Musicians » Juan Carlos Quintero

Juan Carlos Quintero

Those well versed in Latin American culture know Medellín, Colombia is often referred as, “La ciudad de la eterna primavera (the city of eternal spring),” a reflection of the vast Andean Valley’s culture, art, flowers, music and people.  Both musically and spiritually, the heart, soul and guitar of Juan Carlos Quintero's music reflects the colorful sounds and diverse rhythms of his cherished birthplace.

Latin music was a very natural gravitation for JCQ when he first picked up the guitar at age eight: “No matter what style I ever played in, I always came back to my heritage. Music from Colombia crosses so many boundaries and its ability to seduce while celebrating life has always moved me. Colombian rhythms are so majestic, they have a strong natural appeal to me. This music seems to show up every time I compose or perform, I can't help it! A few years before I picked up the guitar, I remember being mesmerized by a band that played in a high school next door to my elementary school in Brussels. They were a cover band playing Latin music and I was convinced, ‘Those are the guys from the radio!’ I was hooked from then on.”

JCQ was particularly inspired by masters like Quincy Jones, Gato Barbieri, Cal Tjader, Miles, Tito Puente, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Jeff Beck and Carlos Santana, but he felt that Chick Corea, Eddie Palmieri, Gato Barbieri and Gary Burton best brought out the excitement of bridging melodic improvisation with composition. JCQ took this lead both attending Berklee College of Music in the early 80’s and when he launched his own solo career later in the decade.  He studied composition at Boston’s New England Conservatory with George Russell before moving to Los Angeles, where he plugged into the city’s studio scene with the help of his mentor Tommy Tedesco (The Wrecking Crew). While developing his freelance guitar-work by day, JCQ composed a volume of original music and sought out old Boston schoolmates to help bring the music to life via gigs throughout Los Angeles. An opportunity to open for longtime hero, Gato Barbieri convinced him to keep writing and start making records...  

Dreams come true...Achieving his goal of producing music blending contemporary jazz with music styles from Colombia, JCQ quickly became a staple of NAC, World, Jazz and Smooth Jazz radio with tracks from his first two albums, a self-titled effort in 1990 (featuring Tommy Tedesco) and Through The Winds in 1992 on Nova Records. Critically acclaimed records followed in 1997 with The Way Home on Escapade records segueing to releases on Moondo Records, a label he founded in early 2000 and distributed by Robert Fripp’s label, DGM. A decade of music ensued with notable releases, Medellín, Los Musicos, Los Primos, Las Cumbias...Las Guitarras, Joy To The World, and Guitarras De Pasión compilation series featuring music by JCQ (Vol. 1 Charted #1 on iTunes/World Music for 7 months). Amongst many highlights in JC’s recording career, a standout remains when featured on Jazz on the Latin Side Volume 1 (2000) and Volume 2(2001), all-star live recordings at B.B. King’s Blues Club in Los Angeles (Ubiquity/Cubop Records) alongside Alex Acuna, Poncho Sanchez, Justo Almario, Otmaro Ruiz, Francisco Aguabella and Luis Conte, to name a few. Joining forces with top tier music collaborators and label partners has bolstered JCQ’s profile as a world-class guitarist/recording artist able to produce, perform and record a world of music while nurturing a signature sound.

Read more

Tags

3
Album Review

Juan Carlos Quintero: Table for Five!

Read "Table for Five!" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


As the news gets worse, why do some kinds of music simply sound better and better? Juan Carlos Quintero's Table for Five is, by content at least, “Latin Jazz." Yet there is something for everyone, including “Alone Together," “Giant Steps" and a slightly different version (as a cha-cha-cha) of Horace Silver's Cape Verdean- inflected “Song for My Father." Aaron Serfaty on drums and Joe Rotondi on piano are more than capable soloists on “Song." They bring a fresh sound to ...

36
Album Review

Juan Carlos Quintero: Table for Five!

Read "Table for Five!" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Fans of captivating Latin rhythms in the service of contemporary jazz should be enchanted by Table for Five! on which maestro Juan Carlos Quintero swaps his customary nylon strings for an electric guitar and his focus from smooth jazz and world music to the standard repertoire, American and Latin, and a pair of his own jazz-centered compositions. It's a milieu in which Quintero shines, as do his long-time friends and colleagues—pianist Joe Rotondi, bassist Eddie Resto, drummer Aaron Serfaty and ...

95
Album Review

Juan Carlos Quintero: Los Musicos

Read "Los Musicos" reviewed by Mark Corroto


To call certain music ‘Latin fusion’ is to speak in redundancy. Just about all Latin, like America’s jazz music, is a fusion or amalgamation of many styles. Guitarist Juan Carlos Quintero’s motto is “if it works and sounds good adopt it.” On his fourth release as leader the Colombian-born, New Jersey resident (by way of Brussels) mixes multiple South American styles into a contemporary music that can be filed in numerous categories including world music, Latin, and definitely jazz.

Quintero, ...

Read more articles
1

Recording

Guitar Legend Juan Carlos Quintero Releases New Album 'Desserts'

Guitar Legend Juan Carlos Quintero Releases New Album 'Desserts'

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

As with all good meals, the sweets are the most memorable! It’s no wonder that guitar legend Juan Carlos Quintero’s critically acclaimed chart-topping 2022 release, Table For Five, segues so effortlessly to the sequel—the new album, Desserts… Quintero’s new album expands the music menu producing tasty treats while skillfully blending authentic grooves – originating from South American & Caribbean regions – culminating in a thread of meaningful performances honoring the beauty and breadth of Latin-Jazz traditions! Enticing gems include “The ...

Quintero's acoustic and classical guitars sparkle...By virtue of imagination as well as style, Quintero clearly out classes many of his modern Latin guitar-strumming contemporaries"

- Jazz Times

One of the most successful Hispanic cross over artists in the U.S....Quintero never forgets the power of the simple beauty of his acoustic guitar..."

- Hispanic Magazine

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Desserts

Moondo
2023

buy

Table for Five!

Moondo Music
2022

buy

Caminando

Moondo Music
2021

buy

Los Musicos

Moondo
2001

buy

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.