Acho Brother
Tampa, FL | Established. Jan 01, 2006 | SELF
Music
Press
"You will never hear anything like it. Ever. AB has a distinct sound – kind of like growing up in Tampa, where you can enjoy a guava turnover and a café con leche for breakfast and then head over to the Wagon Wheel flea market and pick up some biker gear and/or press on nails. In other words, AB is to music as Tampa is to culture: a truly singular experience" Susi Ulrey- - Metromix/July 2008
"Now on their third album, Acho Brother -- singer/guitarist Hector Mayoral and drummer Zak Byrd -- prove as adventurous as ever, blending Mayoral's breathy, impassioned vocals and aggressive acoustic six-string work with myriad found sounds, ambient washes and superb saxophone work from Jeremy Powell, as well as jazzy piano courtesy of Ray Olan. The Puerto Rico-born, Florida-raised Mayoral alternate between singing in English and Spanish; there are melodic ballads and experimental noise excursions. Few other Tampa Bay acts are making music this challenging, varied and rewarding" Wade Tatangelo- - Creative Loafing/December 2007
"Acho Brother’s Monkish album released by Spanglish Records is by far one of the best CDs we’ve experienced this year. We do not say this lightly. Every track on this album is awesome. A wonderful blend of acoustic guitar with an electronica blend, Monkish is a journey into the heart. A vocal and musical masterpiece. One thing...most of the album is in Spanish. Not up on your Spanish? It’s okay...the music easily transcends that barrier. From the first strum to the last hum, this is one to have. Stand out tracks...come on...we’re giving this an unprecedented 5 sigs, they all stand out. But if I had to pick a favorite ‘El La’ would be it" Carolina Jones- - Unsigned The Magazine-2007
Discography
"A Beneficio de Marvin Santiago" EP -2002
"Monkish"-2006
"Las Chicas del Volleyball"-2007
"Han.ble.ceya"EP-2008
Photos
Bio
“Most Innovative Artist of The Year” – Creative Loafing, 2008
ACHO BROTHER, a/k/a HECTOR MAYORAL, released his debut album in 2002. ‘A Beneficio de Marvin Santiago’, was an attempt to help out Puerto Rican salsa singer Marvin Santiago who was fighting diabetes and in need of an organ transplant.
ACHO BROTHER moved to the Tampa Bay Area in 2003 and in 2004 began recording his second CD ‘MONKISH’, a more subtle and introverted record. Dallas’ Unsigned The Magazine called it one of the best albums of the year. Hector began to experiment with a larger sound, inviting long-time friend, ZAK BYRD, to join in on drums as well as other guest musicians, among them world-class sax player JEREMY POWELL and former Sting/Lenny Kravitz saxophonist BUTCH THOMAS. ACHO BROTHER was invited to share the stage with Matador recording artist Jennifer O’Connor and reggae icon Maxi Priest.
Tampa’s Creative Loafing voted ACHO BROTHER Best of The Bay Culture-Clash Artist, and later that year WMNF 88.5 FM’s Franco Silva included ACHO BROTHER’s “Tango Desnudo” in Latin Beat Magazine’s Top 20 and called it “new age, latin/folk-pop”.
In 2007, ACHO BROTHER released “Las Chicas del Volleyball”. Tampa Bay Times called it, ”stirring and evocative”. They go on to open up for Locos Por Juana, Apes & Androids and Los Amigos Invisibles. Creative Loafing calls them the ‘Most Innovative Artist of The Year’. ACHO BROTHER was also featured in Beyond Documentary’s “Un Pensamiento Cubano” by Robert Arevalo.
MetroMix Magazine describes ACHO BROTHER’s last endeavour ‘Hanbleceya’ with these words” … you will never hear anything like it. Ever.”
ACHO BROTHER is currently Hector Mayoral on guitar and Vocals and Zak Byrd on percussion and drums and frequently features guest musicians of renown. Hector/Acho Brother has played numerous festivals including SXSW, Gasparilla, Tropical Heat Wave and others.
"I am Acho Brother's biggest fan no doubt! Acho Brother is where Latin music meets alternative ... meets dance ... meets Caribbean folk music all in one song! Creativity flows in abundance at Acho Brother!" --Gumbi Ortiz, congas, Al DiMeola Band, New Groove City.
When Acho Brother plays, they dance in the aisles.
Contact Acho Brother at hastalatambora@hotmail.com, tasdelmero@gmail.com or Jerry Byrd - goldeagle@aol.com.
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