Grupo Bryndis - A Nuestro Estilo (2016)

Grupo Bryndis are a longstanding, Grammy-winning legend in Mexican popular music in the grupero genre. They combine elements of Mexican cumbia, pop, and banda -- the latter despite not having a horn section. They have sold millions of recordings and continue to play sold-out tours across Mexico, the United States, and Central and South America. Their motto from the very beginning has been "the group that sings of love." The group was formed in Cerritos, San Luis Potosí, Mexico by Mauro Posada (leader and songwriter), Gerardo Izaguirre (bass guitar), Claudio Montano (keyboards), drummer and second vocalist Juan Guevara, and singer Tony Solis. When Solis left the group in 1988, Juan's brother Guadalupe became lead vocalist. Grupo Bryndis toiled for years playing locally and regionally while writing their own material, in addition to covering traditional music, hit songwriters, and the work of their peers. They recorded several independent albums before signing with Disa in 1988 (remaining there until 2007), and received their first real radio attention after covering Miguel Gallardo's "Otro Ocupa Mi Lugar." In 1994, after a decade of toil, they scored their best-selling breakthrough with Por el Amor; it achieved gold status in 1994. Their success resonated as single after single and album after album hit the charts, making them an in-demand touring act. Their music sold well throughout the 1990s and well into the 2000s. A few of their charting singles included "Te Vas con El," "La Última Canción," "Otro Ocupa Mi Lugar," "El Quinto Trago," "Atrás de Mi Ventana," "Te Esperaré," "Quizás Sí, Quizás No," "La Chica del Este," "Perdóname," "Entre Tú y Yo," "Secreto Amor," and "La Chica del Este." Grupo Bryndis were prolific. For each studio album, a live recording and/or several hits collections were released -- some featuring new tracks as bonus material. Their sound developed as they added many more romanticas to their catalog; they got smoother with maturity, winning new fans and retaining older ones. In 2007, the band won a Latin Grammy for Solo Pienso en Ti, then left Disa for EMI. After 2008's cooperatively written album La Magía de Tu Amor (their first of all-original material), Guadalupe and Juan left the band. It proved an unexpected opportunity for the group to take some well-deserved time off and refocus. When Grupo Bryndis returned to recording with 2010's Más Allá del Tiempo y la Distancia, it was with original lead singer Tony Solis. The first single, "Doy la Vida por un Beso," ran up the charts and landed in the Top Ten. Also in the personnel was Mauro Posadas, Jr. as the new drummer. Released in 2011, Huele a Peligro featured this lineup; its title track charted as the album's first single. An extremely long tour followed. In 2012, during that tour, Andy Zuniga was added as a second vocalist and percussionist, adding support for Solis, who had already grown tired of the road and the music business. He left Grupo Bryndis for the second time in 2013. Zuniga took over as lead vocalist on 2014's studio album, Adicto a Ti (their debut for Fonovisa). The recording did well at radio and on the charts due to its title track single and the folllow-up, "El Querreque." After another yearlong tour, Grupo Bryndis took a short break and reentered the studio, emerging with a follow-up album, A Nuestro Estilo, in early 2016. ~ Thom Jurek.