More Than a New Album, a New Appreciation for Life

Just a year ago, San Diego guitarist Steve Laury’s life was unfolding without a hitch. The debut recording from the former Fattburger guitarist, “Stepping Out,” began climbing the charts shortly after its release early last year. By April, Laury had made his second recording, “Passion,” which hits music stores today, and was at work on a third. For most of May and June, “Stepping Out” stayed at No. 3 on Radio & Records contemporary jazz chart.

But also in June, Laury was diagnosed with lymphoma, a potentially deadly form of cancer.

With his disease in remission after weeks of chemotherapy, however, Laury is gaining strength and preparing to record again--with a fresh outlook.

“It changes your whole perspective,” said Laury, 38. “It makes you realize there are more important things than your career. Your spiritual walk has got to be the most important thing. We have a tendency to believe we’re going to live forever, therefore we never think about our relationship with God, about eternity. When I came down with cancer, I couldn’t believe it was happening to me. It made me realize my walk with Christ was No. 1.”

Before going solo last year, Laury contributed several songs to five Fattburger albums. As he did with Fattburger, Laury still writes music with San Diego musician Ron Satterfield, one half of the band Checkfield. Together, the pair wrote all of the songs for “Passion,” and Satterfield also played keyboards and bass.

The music on “Passion” continues the groove-oriented sound Laury shaped with Fattburger. Through nine original songs, Laury shows a knack for simple, romantic melodies and pleasant guitar playing. In his quest for a polished studio sound, though, Laury didn’t take as many risks as he could have.

If his health continues to improve, Laury hopes to tour Japan later this year. He is extremely popular there. “Stepping Out” won several awards from the Japanese music magazine, Ad Lib, last year, and Japanese clubs were calling when illness put Laury’s career on hold.

Laury said people with his type of cancer stand a 50% to 60% chance of recovery. He isn’t playing basketball yet, and he sleeps more than he used to, but he practices guitar every day, writes music in Satterfield’s home studio and hopes to record his third album in April for October release.

Guitarists such as Pat Metheny, Al Di Meola and Del Mar’s Peter Sprague have fused traditional jazz with assorted Latin influences, primarily relaxing Brazilian. But Colombian-born Juan Carlos Quintero is one of the first guitarists to meld jazz with Mexican salsa, Colombian cumbia and other spicier Latin forms.

“For some reason, the guitar really hasn’t found its place in Latin jazz,” said Quintero, who plays the Horton Grand Hotel in downtown San Diego on Friday and Saturday. “It’s usually horn players and pianists that take the lead. My style is a fusion of Pat Metheny, Eddie Palmieri, Earl Klugh, (Antonio Carlos) Jobim.

“We don’t have horns screeching in the background. The emphasis is on the groove and composition, with the guitar as the lead voice. I go for a singing, lyrical approach.”

Quintero, 30, graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1986. He has lived in Redondo Beach since then, enjoying a career as a studio musician until two years ago.

After he graduated from Berklee, one of his instructors, guitarist Tommy Tedesco, took Quintero under his wing and showed him the L.A. studio ropes. During the late 1980s, Quintero became an increasingly popular hired hand, hoisting his ax for everything from Chevrolet and fast-food commercials to the sound track for the movie “Harlem Nights.” He also backed crooners such as Andy Williams and Engelbert Humperdinck.

But in 1990, Quintero struck out on his own with a debut self-titled recording. In March, his second, “Through the Winds,” is due. While some musicians, including self-proclaimed “nouveau flamenco” guitarist Ottmar Liebert, use Latin influences as a point of departure for slick, light, radio-friendly ventures, Quintero’s music captures much authentic Latin spirit.

The music pulses steadily ahead, with dense rhythmic undercurrents supporting Quintero’s warm, romantic melodic themes and the improvisations he weaves around them. Quintero is out to crack the contemporary jazz market, the territory of Kenny G. and other lightweights, but Quintero has meaningful things to say on the guitar. His music has enough straight-forward allure to captivate a broad audience, but it’s also challenging enough to please more critical music aficionados.

At the Horton Grand, Quintero will be joined by his regular bassist Alec Milstein, plus San Diegans Tommy Aros on percussion, Rob Whitlock on piano and Johnny Casteneda on drums. Music begins at 8:30 both nights.

RIFFS: Jazz singer Mose Allison’s appearances Thursday through Sunday at Elario’s probably mark the end of world-class jazz at the club. Beginning with a Feb. 6 appearance by San Diego traditional jazz band Tobacco Road, Elario’s begins a policy of local entertainment. Tobacco Road plays every Thursday this month. La Jolla saxman Joe Marillo takes the stage Feb. 7 and 8, San Diego blues player Earl Thomas on Jan. 21, 22, 28 and 29. Jazz fans may be disheartened by the loss of a venue that brought a slew of veteran jazz giants to town, along with such rising young players as Bill Frisell, Mark Whitfield, Ray Anderson and Michel Camilo. But the change is a plus for locals such as Marillo, who was among the first jazz musicians to play the club in 1985. He hasn’t appeared there in several years and is happy to be back . . . .

Veteran jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell plays the Jazz Note (above Diego’s restaurant) in Pacific Beach on Friday through Sunday nights (Jan. 31 to Feb. 2), backed by San Diegans Bob Magnusson on bass and Jim Plank on drums.

CRITIC’S CHOICE

MAKING THE BARITONE SAX SING SWEETLY

The San Diego Jazz Society kicks off a new series of concerts with Saturday’s appearance by baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola. Brignola works critically acclaimed magic with the cumbersome baritone. His last release was the 1991 “What It Takes,” his next, due in July, is called “It’s Time.”

Brignola will be joined by an all-star group including bassist Andy Simpkins, reedman Ricky Woodard, pianist Gerald Wiggins and drummer Lawrence Marable. He hasn’t worked with any of them before, but spontaneous sparks should fly. Music starts at 8 at the Lyceum Stage Theater downtown. Tickets are $12, available from TicketMaster.