Alma is a Cuban male vocal quartet founded in 2001 in the province of Holguín. It is comprised of Gustavo Adolfo Asencio Quiles (lead vocals); Alejandro Ochoa de Miguel (vocalist); Rubén Darío Pérez Guerra (baritone); Yasel Mendoza Patterson (bass); and Liudvik Luís Cutiño Cruz, singer, director, and musical arranger. This group is the first a cappella male vocal quartet in the city.

Their debut took place during the May Pilgrimages, an artistic event held in Holguín on May 5, 2001, where they performed a concert entitled, “On the Sweetness of the World.”

That same year, they performed several times at the Casa de Iberoamérica (161 Arias Street between Maceo and Libertad Streets, Holguín), the Museo La Periquera (198 Frexes Street, Holguín), and the Casa de la Trova (174 Maceo Street, Holguín) in Holguín. They gave a recital for the 40th anniversary of the UNEAC (National Association of Musicians of the United Nations) in Holguín and participated in the Concert Music Festival in the same city.

The following year, they toured Havana, performing at the Café Cantante (Paseo and 39th Street, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana), the Delirio Habanero (Paseo and 39th Street, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana), among other venues. They also performed at the Ninth Pilgrimage of May and the Ibero-American Cultural Festival, both in Holguín.

In 2003, Alma participated in the Concert Music Festival in her hometown. She gave a Valentine’s Day concert. She appeared on various television programs. She performed at the Jazz Club La Zorra y el Cuervo (155 Calle 23, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana) and participated in the JoJazz Competition for Young Jazz Artists, where she was a finalist.

Camina Fino, the title of her debut album, was recorded that year and featured Frank Fernández as the overall producer and music director. The album was nominated for the 2005 Latin Grammy Award by the Colibrí record label.

In 2006, they received the Cubadisco 2006 award in the Vocal Music category for their CD Camina Fino.

In March 2007, singer and guitarist Alejandro Ochoa de Miguel joined Alma, making it a vocal quintet. This development contributes to the increased potential of the band’s sound, as well as greater harmonic and timbral possibilities.

They received the City Award in the Holguin Culture Week Music Competition. They performed concerts at the 23rd Dr. Alfonso Ortíz Tirado Festival in Mexico City and participated in La Expo-Obregón, also in Mexico City, marking their first international experience.

Alma’s repertoire includes popular music, traditional music, and contemporary Cuban music, as well as classic Latin American songs, spirituals, and American jazz classics. It also includes German and English music.

Among the Cuban titles featured there are: Guantanamera (Joseíto Fernández); Chan Chan (Francisco Repilado); The Afternoon (Sindo Garay); The Rich Vacillation (José A. Fajardo); Beautiful and Tasty (Benny Moré); The First Love (Pablo Milanés); La Lupe (Juan Almeida); Yolanda (Pablo Milanés); among many others.

Their music is the result of the fusion of Cuban rhythms with the sounds of American black music, an exquisite treatment of vocals and the use of unisons, dissonances, and augmented and diminished chords.

Alma has performed in diverse venues, including some of Cuba’s most important and prominent venues. Her music has been featured in various Cuban music events and festivals, including A Tempo con Caturla (Santa Clara, 2004); the International Bolero Festival of Oro (2006); and the National Cuarteto Gathering (Havana, 2006).