Habana Abierta, a Cuban musical group founded in the early 1990s in Havana. This project dates back to the conception of the compilation album Habana Oculta (Nube Negra, 1995), produced by Gema Corredera and Pavel Urkiza, with the faithful purpose of promoting the voices and music of young Cuban musicians abroad. The album featured Pepe del Valle, Luis Barbería, Andy Villalón, José Luis Medina, Kelvis Ochoa, Alejandro Frómeta (Superavit), Carlos Santos, and Boris Larramendi.

With the exception of Carlos and Frómetra, the rest of these singer-songwriters traveled to Spain in 1996 to participate in different festivals, a fact that very soon aroused curiosity, stimulated by audiences and the media, both from the Spanish industry and from relevant figures, including: Raimundo Amador, Ana Belén, Luis Pastor, Ketama and Víctor Manuel, among others.

When BMG-Ariola became interested, Alejandro Gutiérrez and Vanito Brown joined the project, giving rise to the group Habana Abierta and with it the album of the same name, which also featured production by Gema Corredera and Pavel Urkiza, in 1997.

Habana Abierta was then formed by: Kelvis Ochoa, Vanito Brown, Boris Larramendi, José Luis Medina, Alejandro Gutiérrez, Luis Barbería, Andy Villalón and Pepe del Valle.

24 Horas is the title of this group’s second album, from 1999. Habana Abierta presented a mix of various musical genres, including Funk, Reggae, Hip Hop, and Rock, with elements of Cuban popular music performed by legendary groups such as Matamoros, Van Van, Irakere, and NG la Banda.

Habana Abierta returned to Cuba after a long period of work abroad in early 2003. On that occasion, they performed a series of solo concerts, in which other Cuban musicians participated as guests; they also performed together in the Salón Rosado at La Tropical (41st and 42nd Streets, Playa, Havana), which attracted over 10,000 spectators. All of this led to the production of the documentary Habana Abierta, which was presented at several international film festivals and directed by Jorge Perugorría and Arturo de Soto.

This year, they appeared in several documentaries, including director Camila Guzmán’s Sugar Curtain. Also in October, they performed for two consecutive nights, selling out the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami. The show was produced by Nat Chediak.

In 2005, the album Boomerang was released on the Calle 54 and EMI-odeon record labels. It featured musical production by Alain Pérez and collaborations with prominent musician Bebo Valdés and others.

The latest phonogram, 1234, from 2006, was self-produced and independently produced for the Linkgua Music label. Four members of Habana Abierta participated in it: Alejandro Gutiérrez, Vanito Brown, Luis Barbería, and Jose Luis Medina.

On June 6, 2009, they performed with singer Willy Chirino at the América Arlines Arena in Miami, in front of nearly 10,000 people.

Habana Abierta has performed in diverse venues around the world, in numerous European countries such as Spain; in major cities such as New York, at the SOBs Plaza; and in Miami. In the latter, on the stage of the América Arlines Arenas in Miami and the Miami-Dade County Auditorium. In Cuba, they have performed at La Tropical (41st and 46th Avenues, Playa, Havana) and at the National Theater of Havana (Promenade and 39th Street, Vedado, and Plaza de la Revolución, Havana). At festivals such as the first edition of Rock’n Rio in Lisbon and the Dr. Music Festival, among others.

They have also shared the stage with music greats such as: Willy Chirino, Gema Corredera, Isaac Delgado and Luís Enrique (Nicaraguan).

Habana Abierta is one of the groups that faithfully represents Cuban music and youth and good music.