A.B. Quintanilla III - Planeta Kumbia - Music & Performance - CD

Bass player A.B. Quintanilla and his band have gone through so many name changes, it's been hard to keep up through the years.

First it was the Kumbia Kings. Then AB Quintanilla Presents the Kumbia Kings. Then, AB Quintanilla III Presents, and so on. Now, following the split with longtime partner Cruz Martinez, we have Kumbia All Starz with their latest album, Planeta Kumbia.

The constant through all these shifts is the Kumbia Kings (or should say the Kumbia All Starz) sound, a blend of Mexican cumbia, techno and pop with touches of R&B and hip-hop. But Planeta Kumbia takes a slight detour by also incorporating more tropical dance beats, from reggae to calypso plus a slew of Latin acts as guest artists, including Yuri, Vicentico and Flex. This is, finally, a pop/dance album, the kind that could work in Ibiza and the Mexican Riviera as well as in a Texan ballroom.

For vintage Kumbia Kings sound, turn to "Por T￭ Baby," featuring up and coming Panamanian singer Flex in this medium-tempo cumbia with reggaet￳n touches, a mix of contemporary and tradition that succeeds in getting people to dance without falling into the sometimes frenetic beat Kumbia Kings is sometimes known for.

Then, quickly, the other side of Kumbia All Starz is heard on "Felicidades," a slow, R&B-tinged ballad with Motown-influenced vocals, albeit in Spanish.

And, in the choice of language, this album is a departure for Quintanilla. Whereas on prior Kumbia Kings albums there was always a blend that included English, here Quintanilla has gone 100% Spanish -- even when his influences are clearly American -- in what he says is an attempt to reach his core fan base.

Take "Gracias," a cumbia where the guest artist is Yuri, one of the grand dames of Mexican music, known best for her syrupy ballads. Here, Yuri lends her voice to a melodic, traditional, cutesy ditty with lilting choruses that, when all is said and done, is a pretty love song.

In sharp contrast is "Vuelve," which takes a distinctly alternative turn thanks to guest artists Vicentico (the Argentine alternative artist) and Spanish rapper Mala Rodr￭guez. The track, a cover of a much-recorded song, goes from edgy to evocative, blending different styles and vocals.

The purely dance side of this album can be heard on tracks like "Laberinto" and "Planeta Kumbia," a pure club track full of synths and loops.

With three bonus acoustic tracks, that -- in a twist -- are not on the original track listing; this is a versatile album of many dance beats. Don't be surprised if Grandma and the kids enjoy it together, it's a disc that can appeal to a broad range of listeners.

By Leila Cobo