NEXT: Produced by Dave Douglas w/ Argentine singer/songwriter Julián Muro: World Music, Jazz, Chamber, Folklore Argentino, Song - ears&eyes Records #jazz #music

Described by musicologist Esteban Buch (EHESS, Paris) as “one of the most promising Argentine musicians of his generation,” Julián Muro presents APFUS, a two-volume opus co-produced with legendary trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas. This ambitious project, backed by New Music USA’s Creator Development Fund, brings together an exceptional string quintet featuring the Bergamot String Quartet and Ethan Cohn (double bass). It also features collaborations from Pauline Roberts (vibraphone), Rintaro Mikami (percussion), Kulusé Souriant (drums), and Alex Baiz Perry (keyboards). APFUS, VOL. 1 is a joint global release between labels ears&eyes Records (US/World) and Segell Microscopi (Europe).

Julián Muro is a composer, arranger, producer, singer, and poet whose work seeks a language that inhabits the intersection of poetry and music, drawing from both tradition and dissent. Through this exploration, he questions the boundaries between musical genres and traces a poetics that dialogues with his biography as a nomad and naturalist. His singular artistic vision has earned him international recognition, leading him to perform on prestigious stages such as the NN North Sea Jazz Festival 2024, participate in numerous artistic residencies, receive an award from the Tishman Environment and Design Center, and complete a master's degree at Codarts University (Rotterdam). He currently resides in Madrid, supported by a full AIE scholarship for studies in Iberian Peninsula Folklore, consolidating a period of great creative effervescence that includes the recent recording of his fourth studio production, Crazy Science.

Streaming already: No se está solo and Si III. Si

APFUS, VOL. 1 (2026) dwells in the subtle intersection of contemporary chamber music, improvisation, and South American roots music. Driven by what he describes as a “tension between his untamed nature and his artistic calling,” Muro left his home in the Argentine Patagonia in 2018 to embark on an itinerant life. After years of European nomadism—where he funded his first recordings by working in mountain refuges in the Alps—his artistic compass led him to the asphalt of New York, earning a full scholarship for the then-brand-new Performer-Composer Master of Music at The New School.

The seed for his most ambitious recording project, APFUS, had been planted years earlier during a residency at the Banff Centre (Canada), where he first collaborated with Dave Douglas. Reunited in New York, and moved by the urgency to transform his life's journey into a tangible sonic testament, Muro presented him with his sketches. Douglas immediately assumed the role of mentor and co-producer.

APFUS, VOL. 1 (2026) presents a chamber ecosystem, while the second installment, slated for 2027, will feature a jazz ensemble with Dave Douglas as a guest artist. Recorded “the old-fashioned way” by engineer Geoff Countryman—live in a single room in New York without acoustic isolation between the instruments—the record achieves an organic and genuine sonority, becoming a triumph of imagination over a scarcity of resources. The meticulous arrangement work, which successfully amalgamates contemporary music with jazz and folklore, received guidance from figures such as Jacob Garchik, one of the primary arrangers for the Kronos Quartet, and Emilio Solla, a Latin Grammy winner known for his unique treatment of tango and jazz in a Big Band format.

• Julián Muro: Vocals, guitar, additional percussion, composition, arrangements, lyrics, co-production alongside Dave Douglas. (Own albums: Dingungu, Unterwegs. Collaborations with: Caroline Shaw, viñu-vinu, Kenosha Kid)

  Bergamot Quartet: Ledah Finck, Sarah Thomas, Amy Tan, Irene Han - String quartet (of Caroline Shaw, Paul Wiancko, Sō Percussion, Dan Trueman, Terry Sweeney)

  Ethan Cohn:  Double bass (of Focus Year Band 21, Ensemble Infinity, Sebastián Greschuk, Dave Douglas)

  Pauline Roberts: Vibraphone, backing vocals, additional percussion on tracks 3, 5, and 6 (of Lulada Club, The Furious Bongos, Billy Martin)

  Kulusé Souriant: Drums, backing vocals, additional percussion on tracks 5 and 6 (of Kulusé Souriant Sextet, Café Fuerte, Raíz Viva)

  Rintaro Mikami: Percussion on tracks 5 and 6 (of Bubble Tea and Cigarettes, Ester Wiesnerova, First Fish)

  Alex Baiz Perry: Keyboards on tracks 5 and 6 (of Indigo Mirror, Leni Kreienberg, Paul Sakai)

Bassist Tony Saunders Reimagines Two R&B Classics on “Return of the Mack (I Like It)” with GRAMMY® Nominee Gerald Albright #jazz #music

During January’s NAMM Show, two‑time EMMY‑winning bassist Tony Saunders played a demo mashup of Mark Morrison’s “Return of the Mack” that weaves in El DeBarge’s “I Like It” for 9‑time GRAMMY® nominee Gerald Albright. The saxophonist instantly heard its radio potential and agreed to play on the recording. The newly released single is now climbing the Billboard and Mediabase charts.

 

Joining Saunders and Albright on the track is GRAMMY®-winning keyboardist Michael Mani (Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Tori Kelly), who produced the single with Saunders along with playing keyboards, synths, key bass, vocal processing, drum programming, and guitar synths. John Mitchell added live drums to anchor the rhythm track.  

 

“I’ve always loved ‘Return of the Mack’ — the groove is off the hook — and I knew I’d record it someday. ‘I Like It’ has also been one of my favorites, and because it’s in the same key, the mashup came together naturally. The reaction from fans when we play it live is incredible,” said Saunders, who records for the Baja/TSR label and received clearance to release the single on his own imprint.

 

Saunders dedicates the new single to the memory of two of his cousins, Kurt Kaywood and Oliver Rodgers. They passed away two weeks apart as Saunders was finishing up work on the track. “They played an important part of my life, always introducing me to new things.”

 

“Return of the Mack” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1996. El DeBarge’s “I Like It” was the group’s breakthrough hit, peaking at No. 2 on Billboard’s R&B chart in 1982. 

 

Last week, Saunders was on-set in Sacramento shooting a cameo appearance in the Belton Mouras Entertainment film Fingers: The Vegan Zombie Musical, which is expected this Halloween. In addition to scoring several films, Saunders made his big screen debut in 1986 in the Francis Ford Coppola blockbuster Peggy Sue Got Married playing in a scene as a band member of Nicolas Cage.

 

Saunders’ musical path began with taking piano lessons from Herbie Hancock. He was gifted with an organ by Sly Stone and received his first bass from Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Tom Fogerty. His professional career began when he was invited to play in his father’s band. His father was Merl Saunders, and the co-band’s leader was Grateful Dead legend Jerry Garcia. Tony Saunders’ diverse musical journey spans jazz, funk, rock, R&B, and Latin music. He also composed the musical Rock Justice with Jefferson Starship’s Marty Balin.

 

Saunders debuted as a solo artist with 2011’s Romancing the Bass. His latest collection, 2024’s The Romance Continues, spawned multiple Billboard Top 10 hits. Over the years, Saunders has collaborated with contemporary jazz luminaries Jeff Lorber, Paul Brown, Paul Jackson Jr., Nils, Jeff Ryan, Randy Crawford, Blake Aaron, and Adam Hawley.

 

In addition to releasing more new music this year, Saunders is eager to perform with his new band: Mitchell on drums, bassist Vernon Hall (Tony! Toni! Tone!), guitarist Tim Landis, and keyboardist Ray Roland.

 

“I have played with a lot of musicians in my life, but this group really gets the Tony Saunders vibe!”

 

For more information, please visit www.tonysaunders.com. 

 

Holly Cole Announces New Summer Tour Dates In Support Of 'Dark Moon' #jazz #music

Canada's Most Captivating Jazz Voice Brings Her Acclaimed Album to Rochester, Sherbrooke, Huntsville, and StratfordUPCOMING TOUR DATES:

June 27, 2026: Rochester International Jazz Festival, Kilbourn Hall, Rochester, NY

July 3, 2026: Granada Theatre, Sherbrooke, QC

July 10, 2026: Algonquin Theatre, Huntsville, ON

July 23, 2026: Avondale Theatre, Stratford, ON

Toronto, ON: Holly Cole announces a new run of summer tour dates in support of her thirteenth studio album ‘‘Dark Moon’,’ released January 24, 2025, via Rumpus Room / Universal Music Canada. The dates take her from the Rochester International Jazz Festival to stages in Sherbrooke, Huntsville, and Stratford, continuing a touring campaign that has seen the album connect with audiences across Japan, Germany, France, the United States, and right across Canada. For those who know Holly Cole, none of this is surprising. For those who do not yet, this summer is the moment to find out.

‘‘Dark Moon’’ is the album of a singular artist at the full height of her powers. Holly Cole's smoky, utterly distinctive voice reshapes material from the New American Songbook, with repertoire drawn from writers including Marty Balin, Peggy Lee, Hal David, Burt Bacharach, and Johnny Mercer, into something at once deeply rooted and completely her own. Smart arrangements, an unmistakable sense of drama, and the kind of ensemble playing that only comes from years of deep collaboration define the record. The expanded edition added "Comin' Home Baby," featuring a brilliant harmonica solo from Howard Levy and percussion from Brazilian-born Cyro Baptista, recorded on the eve of Mel Torme's 100th anniversary, alongside the Good Lovelies lending their three-part 1950s Nashville-style harmonies. The Montreal Gazette's Bill Brownstein captured the Cole effect perfectly: "Serial jazz fest performer Holly Cole returns to make magic and melt hearts."

The career that has led to this moment is one of the most decorated in Canadian music. Cole began in 1989, signed to Blue Note's Manhattan imprint in 1992, and released Blame It on My Youth to platinum-plus sales in Canada and over 200,000 copies internationally, with "Calling You" hitting number one in Japan. Her album Temptation, made up entirely of Tom Waits material, became critically acclaimed in its own right. She has won two JUNO Awards from eight nominations, two Gemini Awards, two Japanese Grand Prix Gold Disc Awards, and the prestigious Ella Fitzgerald Award from the Montreal Jazz Festival, a distinction shared with Aretha Franklin, Diana Krall, and Etta James. In 2014, Queen's University awarded her an honorary doctorate. With ‘Dark Moon’, she has returned with, as her own team put it, unstoppable force.

Holly Cole live is a different experience from Holly Cole on record, and both are extraordinary. Performing alongside her longtime collaborators Aaron Davis (piano), George Koller (bass), Davide Direnzo (drums), John Johnson (saxophone), and Kevin Breit (guitar), she brings to the stage the same ensemble warmth and interpretive intelligence that makes ‘Dark Moon’ the record it is. These summer shows are not to be missed.

###

UPCOMING TOUR DATES:

June 27, 2026: Rochester International Jazz Festival, Kilbourn Hall, Rochester, NY

July 3, 2026: Granada Theatre, Sherbrooke, QC

July 10, 2026: Algonquin Theatre, Huntsville, ON

July 23, 2026: Avondale Theatre, Stratford, ON

For more information, please contact:

Eric Alper

Publicist  I  Music Commentator  I  Shameless Idealist

647-971-3742

www.ThatEricAlper.com

Eric@ThatEricAlper.com

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Multimedia artist Belton Mouras, Jr. brings Sacramento its first original musical feature film - complete with singing-and-dancing vegan zombies #jazz #music

Singing-and-dancing vegan zombies have been spotted across Sacramento in recent weeks — but there’s no need for alarm. They’re part of multimedia artist Belton Mouras Jr.’s debut musical feature, Fingers: The Vegan Zombie Musical, now in production as the city’s first original musical film.

 

The film began shooting last month at locations throughout the Sacramento region and is set to wrap production next week. Mouras Jr. wrote the script, composed twelve original songs, and is directing and co-starring in the project, which Belton Mouras Entertainment plans to release this Halloween.

 

“As a longtime Sacramento resident, it’s especially meaningful to film throughout the region and collaborate with so many talented local cast and crew members. Auburn and Gibson Ranch have been incredible locations, offering a beautiful and visually diverse backdrop. And Camino’s Apple Hill region—where we filmed much of the original short—is truly breathtaking,” said Mouras Jr., whose film expands on his 2024 short Fingers: The World’s First Vegan Zombie, also shot locally.

 

The Fingers short and two fully choreographed song-and-dance videos have garnered over three million combined views, which spurred Mouras Jr. to expand his imaginative vegan zombie story into a full-length musical feature.

 

The film features a wide-ranging ensemble that includes Broadway performer Grace Field and Sacramento opera vocalists Omari Tau and Vanessa Martucci, who appear in a showcase number Mouras Jr. calls “Opera Rock Hop”—a high-energy fusion of opera, rock, and hip-hop. Two-time Emmy Award-winning jazz musician Tony Saunders and Billboard chart-topping flutist Althea René also make cameo appearances.

 

One of the film’s most elaborate sequences was shot in a downtown Sacramento warehouse, featuring K-pop performer Sean Choi, I-pop artist Lav Raman, and their dance teams in a multi-group dance-off alongside a rap battle. The multicultural scene also highlights a six-member mariachi folklórico ensemble and a standout vocal performance from co-lead actor Rachel Williams, all set within a vibrant, immersive environment.

 

“Bringing together such a wide range of cross-genre musical talent has created several truly memorable moments. With twelve original songs spanning hip-hop, pop, jazz, rock, and country, the film builds a vibrant world where zombies not only relearn how to live—but sing, dance, and ultimately contribute back to society,” said Mouras Jr., who plays the title character.

 

“As the film’s creator—providing both the story and the music—I’ve been grateful for the incredible opportunity to also play the lead role of Fingers and bring the character to life, bringing together multiple creative platforms into one cohesive and entertaining experience—creating an epic cinematic universe for Fingers.”

 

A classically trained musician, Mouras Jr. is enjoying a remarkably prolific year. In March, he released a contemporary jazz instrumental called “Dynamo” that features him playing piano and keyboards alongside nine-time GRAMMY® nominee Gerald Albright on saxophone and Saunders on bass. He also released his first country single, “Hold My Hand With Your Heart,” a vocal tune that he sang, composed, and performed. Both singles are garnering an abundance of airplay while the intimate video that accompanied the release of the country love song is receiving significant views.

 

Last October, Mouras Jr. released the opening song-and-dance number from Fingers: The Vegan Zombie Musical as a standalone single “What A World” along with a video of the scene featuring 25 dancers on location in Sacramento. Watch “What A World (We Live In)” here: https://youtu.be/SHWaNonj5E0.

 

For more information, visit https://beltonmourasentertainment.com.

 

 

 

ABOUT BELTON MOURAS ENTERTAINMENT:

 

Belton Mouras Entertainment (BME) is dedicated to passionate storytelling through music, film, and art. Founded by screenwriter, director, composer, and painter Belton Mouras, Jr., the Sacramento, California-based company has produced acclaimed short films such as Fingers: The World’s First Vegan Zombie and Mickey’s Tree. BME’s projects blend humor, heart, and social commentary, with accompanying soundtracks and singles that have charted and reached audiences worldwide. For more information, please visit https://beltonmourasentertainment.com.

Jazz trumpeter-flutist Gabriel Mark Hasselbach Drops Dual-Genre Releases - Plus a New Book - During a Remarkably Prolific Month #jazz #music

Juno Award-winning trumpeter-flugelhornist-flutist Gabriel Mark Hasselbach marked Jazz Appreciation Month with a remarkably prolific burst of creativity: two new releases — one straight-ahead, one contemporary — and a new instructional book. A rare dual-genre charting artist, Hasselbach continues to bridge the classic and contemporary jazz worlds with equal fluency.

 

Hasselbach released a straight-ahead album, MidCentury Modern Vol. 4, on his Windtunnel Records imprint — a project he believes will be his definitive opus and stand the test of time. On the same day, he dropped the smooth single “Swizzle Stick” featuring Billboard hitmaker Chris Standring, who released the funky and vibrant trumpet and guitar duet on his Ultimate Vibe Recordings label.

 

MidCentury Modern Vol. 4 is an expansive 20-track album of standards and two original Hasselbach compositions. He created the series years ago from a desire to have an outlet for his love of jazz without compromising the classic jazz essence, and without muddying his contemporary jazz bonafides. Released in 2022, MidCentury Modern Vol. 3 was No. 9 on the Jazz Week chart and spent 17 weeks on the chart (and finished at No. 51 on the year-end chart). 

 

“This project is my homage to all the great trumpeters who inspired me and kept me focused on my path. MidCentury Modern Vol. 4 is my legacy album — my zenith. It captures my most erudite playing on trumpet, flugelhorn, flute, valve trombone, and even vocals. I am also ecstatic over the sublime performances by my colleagues like pianist Miles Black,” said the Vancouver-based Hasselbach, who produced the album.

On MidCentury Modern Vol. 4, Hasselbach spotlights material from such standard bearers as Freddie Hubbard, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Blue Mitchell, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Horace Silver, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, George Shearing, Joe Henderson, and Delfeayo Marsalis. He also pays homage to lesser-known trumpeters who influenced him, specifically Joe Gordon and Carmell Jones. The new album includes two of Hasselbach’s compositions: “El Tapatico” was inspired by his concerts in Mexico, and “Coming Home for Mardi Gras” reflects the years in which he lived and played in New Orleans.

 

“New Orleans jazz covers one hundred years of history – from Ragtime to the Marsalis clan and beyond. I am versed in most of the styles one hears there, and playing in the NOLA clubs gave me the chance to do it all. I owned a condo in the French Quarter for about 10 years, and played just about everywhere, including the New Orleans Jazz Museum and famous clubs like Snug Harbor. My time there was formative to my development and depth as a jazz musician,” shared Hasselbach.

 

Moving to his latest contemporary offering, Hasselbach and Standring co-wrote and co-produced “Swizzle Stick,” which is swiftly receiving airplay. They previously collaborated on a song, “Daahoud,” for the trumpeter’s Tongue & Groove album in 2021.

 

“Contemporary jazz is the most fun to perform and seems to reach a wider audience. This format has more melodic content and stronger, punchier rhythm components, and typically shorter songs,” said Hasselbach, who has eleven Billboard hits in this lane. “My strongest suit is crafting a melody over an inspiring rhythm track, which has worked well for me in the past. The melody you hear on this luxe rhythm track is predominantly of my making. My muse was working overtime!”

 

In addition to the two new record releases, Inkwell Publishing recently published Hasselbach’s Top Tip Masterclass Jazz Trumpet, a pocket-sized booklet.

 

“Playing an instrument is a joy unto itself, and starting properly is the key to beating frustration,” said Hasselbach. “This booklet gives beginners — or returners — a simple way to breathe, get a good tone, build endurance, and develop their ear.”

 

Hasselbach spent his teenage years listening to late night jazz broadcasts from Chicago and St. Louis on a little transistor radio bounced off the ionosphere from his Mile High birthplace of Denver. He’s played in big bands and has recorded and/or performed with a wide array of GRAMMY® winners and Billboard chart-toppers including Michael Bublé, Jeff Lorber, Paul Brown, Paul Hardcastle, Bob Baldwin, Marc Antoine, Greg Manning, Darren Rahn, Warren Hill, Rob Tardik, Bob James, Chuck Loeb, Larry Coryell, Ernie Watts, Bob Mintzer, and Grant Geissman. Hasselbach has won several Junos (Canada’s GRAMMY equal), and his records consistently hit the Billboard and Jazz Week charts. He has graced the stages at some of the most prestigious festivals like Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Algarve Smooth Jazz Festival, and Catalina JazzTrax. 

 

With two new recordings and a book release, Hasselbach is enjoying a remarkably prolific month. And he’s already at work on his next album, a bluesier contemporary jazz outing that will be titled Le Trompette Bleue.

 

MidCentury Modern Vol. 4 contains the following songs:

 

“Terra Firma Irma”

“Chick’s Tune”

“Mamacita”

“Driftin’”

“Superblue”

“Jazz ‘N Samba”

“Blues On My Mind”

“Gibraltar”

“So What…Now?”

“Blue Soul”

“Funk In Deepfreeze”

“Sister Sadie”

“I’m Goin’ Fishin’”

“Mississippi Jump”

“Jazz Party”

“El Tapatico”

“Round Midnight”

“Lullaby of Birdland”

“Move”

“Coming Home for Mardi Gras”

 

 

Stream or purchase MidCentury Modern Vol. 4 at https://lnk.to/KUeVK2.

 

Play or download “Swizzle Stick” at https://lnk.to/5oPZHTjw.

 

To get Top Tip Masterclass Jazz Trumpet, visit https://tinyurl.com/2wxm4eck.

 

For more information, go to www.gabrieljazz.com.

Latin Jazz Guitarist Juan Carlos Quintero Honors Family, Heritage, and Romance on His New Album The Story of Love, out now #jazz #music

Latin jazz guitarist Juan Carlos Quintero considered the music that makes up his new album, The Story of Love, his “parents’ music” growing up. Now, his 13th album, out now on Moondo Music (BFD/The Orchard), Quintero and his quartet bring new life to those romantic Latin classics from the 1950s and 60s.

 

“As the concept for this project evolved, I found myself drawn to music I experienced as a kid, hearing the melodies emanating from my parents’ stereo. Back then, I wasn’t really paying attention as my focus was on trying to cop solos by Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. Decades later, I’m gathering music I want to record, and once again, it all points to my parents’ ear for melody and good taste. These songs are primarily built on romantic themes, and the album serves as a beautiful soundtrack to their story; it’s the story of love,” said the Medellin, Colombian-born Quintero.

 

Playing with a lyrical electric guitar touch that balances fiery intensity and poetic gentility, Quintero co-produced The Story of Love with Guillermo Guzmán. The album serves lush melodies atop lavish layers of hypnotic rhythms. Quintero recorded and arranged the project with his quartet: Eddie Resto (upright bass), Aaron Serfaty (drums, percussion), Joey Deleon (percussion), and Joe Rotondi (acoustic piano). GRAMMY® nominated flutist and clarinetist Justo Almario and GRAMMY® nominated percussionist Luis Conte are each featured on three tracks. 

 

Opening with “Poodle Mambo” featuring Almario’s dreamy flute, Quintero immerses listeners in a Latin music and jazz journey.

 

“Hearing George Shearing’s Latin recordings from the late 50s inspired me to explore the possibilities of blending Latin rhythms with improvised jazz. As a young player, I was taken by how Shearing showcased his melodic brilliance while highlighting his percussive style on the piano. I wasn’t quite equipped with the necessary vocabulary to reproduce his approach at the time, but I quickly became aware of how to think about the guitar’s potential in this realm. This recording is an homage and a humble attempt to reproduce Shearing’s concept using my guitar language,” explains Quintero.

 

Iconic artists such as Ahmad Jamal, Sonny Rollins, Frank Sinatra, and Dave Brubeck are among the many who have recorded a version of “Poinciana,” which Quintero cites as informing him of the vast range of possibilities an enduring melody provides. “While there are many iterations, renditions, and interpretations via a range of tempos, keys, and melodic embellishments, the strength of the melody always remains intact.”

 

John Scofield’s version of “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise” was seminal for Quintero in the 80s as he embarked on his studies at Berklee College of Music. Quintero, who set his rendition to a Cha-Cha-Cha groove, shares, “Scofield’s recording underscored this new language I was about to explore on the guitar at that time. It was a lightning-rod moment as the performance signaled endless possibilities upon sorting out my music vocabulary.”

 

Quintero recalls his father playing piano as the soundtrack to his childhood. Among the standards and show tunes, his father often played Antonio Carlos Jobim compositions, including “Corcovado.”

 

“While I was shut away diligently practicing rock riffs, little did I know that the music in my future was emanating from the center of the house from my father’s piano. Today, when I record or perform, I’m trying to honor the legacy of the music, but truthfully, I’m honoring my father,” Quintero shared about “Corcovado,” one of two singles released in April to set up the release of The Story of Love. The first was “The Moon Was Yellow,” which features Conte on this percussion-driven interpretation.

 

“Sinatra’s recording with his legendary phrasing and arrangements by Nelson Riddle served as the template for me to take on this elegant melody. Rehearsing with the musicians prior to recording often entails experimenting with rhythms while the arrangements take shape. This time, the process resulted in a Cuban Danzón, a romantic dance form that took on a seamless connection with the melody.”

Shearing’s impact and arrangement influenced Quintero’s reading of “Cuban Love Song,” on which Almario’s flute is featured. Conte occupies the spotlight on the Cuban bolero “Tres Palabras,” an intoxicating romancer, and “Yours,” a complex mambo rhythm showcasing Conte’s snappy timbales.

 

Quintero closes the set with the title track that he dedicates to his wife, Viviana, and features Almario’s evocative clarinet.

 

“‘The Story of Love” is a timeless bolero capturing the dignity and essence of our romance. When I hear this music, I see Viviana, and in that moment, life is better and more beautiful. The love story continues.”

 

Quintero began playing guitar when he was eight and after completing his studies at Berklee College of Music, he studied composition with George Russell at the New England Conservatory. He moved to Los Angeles and released his self-titled debut album in 1990 featuring mentor Tommy Tedesco (The Wrecking Crew). His mélange of jazz, Latin, and global beats—balancing improvisation and composition—found a welcome home in the contemporary jazz and world music scenes. Quintero founded the Moondo Music label in 2000, which was distributed by Robert Fripp’s DGM imprint, exposing the guitarist to an entirely new and different music fan.

 

In parallel with establishing himself as a recording and performing artist, composer, and producer, Quintero became an esteemed educator and mentor. He taught the business of music, jazz, and composition at colleges, including College of the Canyons and California State University. Currently, Quintero serves as head of the music business program at the University of Tennessee. He also ventured into television production as a music supervisor and became the executive in charge of music for Haim Saban’s Saban Brands LLC where he oversaw rights management and music production for shows including The Power Rangers, Julius Jr., and Glitter Force.

 

With love as his muse, Quintero hopes diverse audiences will be seduced by The Story of Love’s tantalizing bouquet of Latin music and culture. 

 

“One of my goals for the album is to invite listeners to rediscover familiar melodies in a revived setting - one that blends the essence of Latin rhythms alongside meaningful arrangements and authentic performance. Often, it’s the rhythms that provide a seamless path into the depth and richness of the culture. When I hear a Danzón, Cha-Cha-Cha, Bolero, or Mambo, it’s the rhythms that evoke a sense of destination in the world; a place where romance and passion converge on the dance floor and where groove leads to a celebration.” 

 

Quintero’s The Story of Love contains the following songs:

 

“Poodle Mambo” featuring Justo Almario

“Poinciana”

“Softly As In A Morning Sunrise”

“Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)”

“The Moon Was Yellow (and The Night Was Young)" featuring Luis Conte

“Cuban Love Song” featuring Justo Almario

“Tres Palabras” featuring Luis Conte

“Yours (Quiéreme Mucho)” featuring Luis Conte

“The Story Of Love (Historia De Un Amor)” featuring Justo Almario

 

 

Stream or purchase The Story of Love at https://orcd.co/JCQStoryofLove.

 

For more information, go to www.juancarlosquintero.com.