Latin Jazz Guitarist Juan Carlos Quintero Releases New Album “The Story of Love” | LISTEN!

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

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (8 MAY 2026): 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.

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.”

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.

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.

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