Hi Y'all!
My name is Jesus "Chus" Brea, former Jazz/Rock specialist here at Progarchives! I lost access to my old account so I just figured I create a new one -hopefully some of my old colleagues are still around
After a long hiatus from the Prog Rock scene, I began rediscovering some bands from my own country (Venezuela) and stumbled across one I did not expect: Frank Quintero. He's literally a pop icon over here, so to find out he had such a solid Jazz Fusion past was so refreshing! Some of his Jazz Rock output could rival those of major US and UK bands like Return to Forever, Weather Report, or Gong, and I definitely believe he deserves a place at this site.
Without further ado, here's a short bio:
Frank Quintero: A Pioneer of Jazz Fusion in Venezuela
(Image taken from the Spotify Artist page)
Frank Quintero is a renowned Venezuelan musician, composer, and producer who has significantly contributed to the Latin American music scene. While he is widely recognized for his pop and rock hits, his early career was deeply rooted in jazz fusion. In 1982, he earned degrees in Drum Performance and Music Production from Berklee College of Music, graduating with a Professional Musician designation.
After a brief hard rock phase with his former band, La Fe Perdida, Quintero's exploration of jazz fusion began in the mid-1970s when he formed the band Frank Quintero y los Balzehaguaos alongside his brothers. Together, they released several influential albums, including "Después de la Tormenta" (1976), "Travesía" (1977), and "Hechizo" (1978).
These albums showcased his ability to blend jazz, rock, symphonic and Latin rhythms, creating a unique sound that resonated with audiences and critics alike. His significant following in the jazz fusion community allowed him to secure collaborations from "top dogs" in the Jazz world such as the Brecker Brothers (Randy and Michael), Dave Sanborn, Steve Khan, and Mark Egan. Moreover, at the Berklee Concert Series Award in 1981, his band achieved first place, while he earned the Buddy Rich award for best drummer.
Although Frank began developing a more mainstream pop-oriented sound by the mid-1980s, when he switched from CBS to Sonorodven, he maintained his connection to his jazz rock roots throughout his extensive five-decade-long career.
Quintero's contributions to Venezuelan music extend beyond his own artistic pursuits. He has mentored and supported countless young musicians, helping to nurture the next generation of talent. His legacy as a pioneer of jazz fusion and a dedicated educator ensures that his influence will continue to be felt for years to come.
Discography
Year | Album | Label | 1976 | Despues de la tormenta | CBS Columbia (Venezuela) | 1977 | Travesía | CBS Columbia (Venezuela) | 1978 | Hechizo | CBS Columbia (Venezuela) | 1980 | De noche y con poca luz | CBS Columbia (Venezuela) | 1981 | Letra y música (Recopilación) | CBS Columbia (Venezuela) | 1981 | Pájaros y estrellas | CBS Columbia (Venezuela) | 1984 | A través de mis ojos | CBS Columbia (Venezuela) | 1985 | Una en un millón (Recopilación) | CBS Columbia (Venezuela) | 1985 | La calle del atardecer | Sonorodven (Venezuela) | 1987 | Hablando a tu sueño | Sonorodven (Venezuela) | 1988 | El de siempre (Recopilación) | CBS Columbia (Venezuela) | 1989 | Algo más que canciones (Recopilación) | Sonorodven (Venezuela) | 1989 | Buscando soles | Sonorodven (Venezuela) | 1992 | Agua dulce | Sony Music (Venezuela) | 1994 | Frankamente acústico (Unplugged) | Sony Music (Venezuela) | 1997 | Canciones para mis pequeños amigos | Anes Records (Venezuela) | 1998 | Demasiado (Maxisencillo) | Señora Luna (Independiente) (Venezuela) | 1999 | Bien | Latin World Entertainment Group | 2001 | 30 Grandes Éxitos de Oro (Recopilación) | Sony Music (Venezuela) | 2002 | Signos de admiración | Latin World Entertainment Group | 2003 | Celebración | Producción Independiente (Venezuela) | 2003 | Demos | Producción Independiente (Venezuela) | 2006 | De vuelta a la calle del atardecer | IC Records (Venezuela) | 2009 | Horas de vuelo (Recopilación) | IC Records - Sony - BMG Music (Venezuela) | 2011 | Guerreros de Luz | IC Records - Diario El Nacional (Venezuela) | 2015 | Natural | H2Q Records (Venezuela)
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Samples
- Sueño de Media Noche (De Noche y con Poca Luz - 1980) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftlhYv--IiM" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftlhYv--IiM - 14 de Noviembre (Travesia - 1977) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzP-wOdo6mw" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzP-wOdo6mw - Tiempo (Travesia - 1977) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmn_IlKhJ4o" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmn_IlKhJ4o - Lagartijo (Despues de la Tormenta - 1976) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2cFdamhPK0" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2cFdamhPK0 - El Pajaro Rojo del Paraiso (Pajaros y Estrellas - 1981) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIOlRNJO46s" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIOlRNJO46s - Como Pasa El Tiempo Por Mi Ventana (Hechizo - 1978) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syHJnh7WE6k" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syHJnh7WE6k - Amanecer (Hechizo - 1978) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB49MnjsvNA" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB49MnjsvNA - Hechizo (Full Album on Spotify) http://open.spotify.com/album/4hX703sRhEi4E8fdFvJ5mS" rel="nofollow - https://open.spotify.com/album/4hX703sRhEi4E8fdFvJ5mS
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