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Habana Abierta

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Habana Abierta
OriginHavana, Cuba
GenresNueva Trova
Years active1996–present
MembersVanito Brown
Jose Luis Medina
Luis Barbería
Alejandro Gutiérrez
Past membersBoris Larramendi
Kelvis Ochoa
Pepe del Valle
Andy Villalón
Websitehttp://myspace.com/habanaabierta

Habana Abierta is a Cuban band. They are a member of a generation of composers, musicians, sculptors, authors, actors, etc. which emerged in the early 90s with its own identity in Havana, even though some of their creations had already been well known for some years in the island's cultural circles.

The origins of Habana Abierta go back to a personal project of music duo Gema y Pável, who wanted to produce a compilation of everything they and their peers had been doing in Havana clubs with hardly any resources. Initially, Luis Alberto Barbería, Pepe del Valle, Carlos Santos, Boris Larramendi, Superavit, Andy Villalón, Kelvis Ochoa and José Luis Medina, backed by the NUBENEGRA recording label, gave us a first glimpse released under the name Habana Oculta. In July 1996 most of them travelled to Spain (except for Carlos Santos, Raúl Ciro and Alejandro Frómeta: Superávit) to showcase their music at several festivals and clubs, and very soon spurred interest among audiences and the media alike, and even well-known Spanish artists and musicians. Ana Belén and Víctor Manuel, along with Ketama, were the first to show an interest and to take the initiative in a gradual and rich exchange with our Habana Abierta, which whom they made music in Spain. BMG Ariola asked Gema y Pável to come up with a project bringing a group of highly different singer-songwriters together on the album, based on the individuality of each member yet with combined expression of the diverse unity of Cuban music. Then Vanito Brown and Alejandro Gutiérrez joined what was to become Habana Abierta, recording a new album under this name.

They played over 80 gigs throughout Spain in 1997, 50 of them in Madrid and in 1998 recorded am album with the line-up down to 6, as Andy and Barbería had left to branch out on their own. With 24 Horas, the second album with Habana Abierta, an eclectic line was followed with some tracks from previous recordings, with a more defined fusion between popular Cuban music and funk, reggae and hip-hop. Rock and Pop Cuban-style with national roots: Van Van by Juan Formell, Irakere by Chucho Valdés, or NG La Banda by José Luis Cortés, refrains attributed to Matamoros over Red Hot Chili Peppers or Rolling Stones riffs. Conga-funk, timba-rock, bolero-hop, chachacha-blues, son and pop.... In January 2003, after six years in Spain, they returned to Cuba for a series of sell-out individual shows, with a performance by the Habana Abierta full line-up at La Tropical, playing to with over 10,000 people. This gave rise to the Habana Abierta documentary directed by Jorge Perugorría and Arturo Soto, which was presented at several film festivals.

Band members

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  • Vanito Brown: Chronicler of personal issues, a versatile songwriter. The scale of his work ranges from a contemporary rock ballad to the most traditional of Cuban music. Currently recording a solo album with producer Robin Taylor-Firth for the BlancoMusic.com label.
  • Alejandro Gutiérrez: It would be fair to say he is a modern-day bolerista, with Filin (feeling) and urban song influences of the continental south, though he is able to create the most contemporary rock; the beauty of his singing and compositions is outstanding.
  • Luis Alberto Barbería: The resonance of his voice and guitar work takes on Afro-Cuban rhythms. His melodies are lyrical with jazz influences. His poetry, colloquially uninhibited due to its exquisite Cubanness. He has worked with Ketama on their recordings and tours.
  • Jose Luis Medina: Refined pop successfully blended with son, guajira and guaracha, able to come up with the barest social criticism or the most conciliatory ballad.

Boris Larramendi, Kelvis Ochoa, Andy Villalón and Pepe del Valle have also been members of the band.

Discography

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In 1998 they record "Habana Oculta", with the participation of Alejandro Frómeta and Raúl Ciro from Superávit. Already as Habana Abierta they record "Habana Abierta", "24 horas" and "Boomerang", this last one in 2006 with the collaboration of musicians such as Bebo Valdés and the arrangements of Alain Pérez.

Three of its members have recorded solo albums: Kelvis Ochoa recorded "Kelvis", Boris Larramendi "Yo no tengo la culpa" and Luis Barbería, "Luis Barbería". Kelvis Ochoa and Boris Larramendi were also the singers of Habana Blues Band, the band created after the success of the movie Habana Blues (directed by Benito Zambrano), winner of a Best Soundtrack Goya Award in 2006.

Nowadays Habana Abierta is about to present its new album, self-produced, and Vanito Brown is preparing his solo album with producer Robin Taylor-Firth.

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