ABRAZAME Y BESAME

There have been changes in the past few years for teenage Tejano singer Jennifer Pe?a. She is now being billed as a solo artist (though her longtime backup band, Los Jetz, is still accompanying her), her voice is taking on a new maturity, and A.B. Quintanilla III has taken over the producing reins. The restructuring has worked to Pe?a's advantage on her fourth and best album, Abrazame y Besame, which should put her back on top of the Tejano scene. The sound has been refocused and evenly split between cumbias and pop numbers, making for a solid, diverse collection. Cumbias "Si Tu Te Vas," "Ya No," and "No Te Voy a Perdonar" sparkle with energy, and Pe?a teams up with Kumbia Kings vocalist DJ Kane for the stellar title track. Quintanilla gives Pe?a a soulful shimmer on pop ballads "Vuelve," "You Say," and "Por un Beso," one of the album's best cuts. He's the best thing that could have happened to Pe?a's career.