SmoothJazz.com Review
Sandy Shore | Monterey, CA | 12/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love the quote from 30th U.S. President Calvin Coolidge that Juan Carlos Quintero includes on the album cover of his new Christmas album, JOY TO THE WORLD. "Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." Isn't that a perfect thought as the frantic pace of the holidays overwhelms us? The clean, simple presentation of the music here exemplifies the peace and goodwill we all need at this time. Quintero spotlights his new acoustic trio on eight out of the ten songs, playing solo on the other two ("Angels We Have Heard on High" and the traditional Spanish lullaby "A la Nanita Nana"). He's a superb guitarist, and the effortless, understated elegance of his performances seem perfect to my ear. The songs sparkle with the tinsel of talent, and shine with integrity. JOY TO THE WORLD will be one of those albums I like to play near the very end of Christmas Eve, when everyone else has retired for the night, the house is quite, and the soft lights of the tree and the fireplace are all that punctuate the darkness. It's when one can truly sense the peace and quiet joy of the season. That's exactly the feeling that will come to you when you listen to this wonderful collection. Juan Carlos Quintero's JOY TO THE WORLD will stand the test of time as an all-time Christmas classic! ~SCOTT O'BRIEN"