To be honest, Lopez or Mendez never brought latin music into Opeth apart from the occasional lick. However, they did get me into the arabic style heavily and that's what some of his non-regular-rock drum patterns came from. Arabic music. I am not a big fan of typical latin music to be honest. I like some latino rock bands, but the traditional music never really got to me.
And the whole jazz idea never came from them either. When I met them they ONLY listened to black and death metal. I guess I depraved them somewhat, and later on, Lopez would come up with "hey, this beat is from the eastern part of Syria....dig!"