Shhh! (CD - 2001)

Personnel includes: A.B. Quintanilla, Cruz Martinez, Jason "DJ Kane" Cano, Andrew Maes, Cisko Bautista, Alex Ramirez, Roy "Slim" Ramirez, Jay "OJ" Martinez; Chris Perez, Jessie Garcia, Joe Reyes (guitar); Jimmy Shortell (trumpet); George (guiro); Alberto "Tico" Acuy (percussion)

Producers: A.B. Quintanilla III, Cruz "CK" Martinez.

Engineers include: Luigi Giraldo, Jaime Galvaz, Cruz Martinez.

SHHH! was nominated for the 2001 Latin Grammy Award for Best Tejano Album.

Personnel: A.B. Quintanilla III (vocals); DJ Kane, Kido (rap vocals); Jesse Garcia, Chris Pérez, Joe Reyes (guitar); John Englund, Gwen Thornton, Kathryn Collier, Lois Swint, Barbara Williams, Judy Rich, Amy Jackson, Kelly Parkinson (violin); Leslie Harlow, Christopher McKellar, Jennie Outram, Lynn Riling (viola); Jimmy Shortell (trumpet); Alberto "Tico" Acuy (percussion); Cruz Martínez (programming).

Audio Mixers: Cruz Martínez; Jamie Graf; A.B. Quintanilla III; Luigi Giraldo.

Recording information: 1790 Platinum Ave. Soundworks; CK's Corner; Da Sky Krib; Kat Kave Studios; Logitone Studios; Q-Productions; Xoom Studios.

Arrangers: Cruz Martínez; A.B. Quintanilla III.

A.B. Quintanilla is Selena's brother, so it only makes sense that his recordings cross the same boundaries between Tejano music and pop, dance, reggae, hip-hop, and R&B. His second album with los Kumbia Kings, SHHH!, largely continues in the vein of its predecessor, Amor Familia y Respeto, except for one major difference -- the album is split between English and Spanish tracks. Perhaps hoping for a crossover hit, Quintanilla keeps most of the English language material in an urban hip-hop soul vein, while the Spanish language tracks are more in the vein of his accessibly eclectic older work (and are tied together by a loose narrative). The two halves almost feel like different albums -- particularly since there isn't much Cumbia in the English stuff -- but Quintanilla is talented enough to come very close to pulling it off. ~ Steve Huey

On his second album, Latin pop adventurer A.B. Quintanilla expands upon both the success and the approach of his first recording. While AMOR FAMILIA Y RESPETO stayed more within the confines of Latin pop, SHHH! is a rather expansive effort. Several tunes feature English lyrics, and hip-hop/R&B elements abound. There's something of a schizophrenic feel to the album, in that the Spanish-language tracks pay more attention to Quintanilla's Latin roots, while the English tunes are strictly in a mainstream pop mode. Nevertheless, Quintanilla manages to handle both styles admirably, thereby expanding his appeal all the more. He may have initially been known as the brother of late Mexican pop siren Selena, but Quintanilla has shown that he's fully capable of forging his own style and building his own career. minimize