Atempo: Callejón de la Habana

Atempo, an Israeli-based piano trio that calls itself a purveyor of "Mediterranean folk fusion," extends its reach to the Caribbean with "Callejón de la Habana," named after a vibrant alley in Havana devoted to Afro-Cuban visual and musical art.  The song is specifically based on guaguancó, an urban form of rumba originating in the black working-class neighborhoods of Havana, blending African and Spanish influences into robust celebrations.  Multiple percussionists churn out Afro-Cuban polyrhythms, propelling one or more vocalists, while two dancers loosely mimic the mating antics of a rooster and a hen.  He makes his moves, she rebuffs, they repeat, creating an energetic secular street performance.

The trio creatively reimagines the style, capturing its rhythms, lyricism and joyous nature, if not the mating ritual dance.  That is left to our imaginations.  The results are infectious, with a solid groove and swinging pianism backed by colorful percussion.  

Atempo features Itay Abramovitz on piano, Alon Stern on bass and guitar and Yoav Lachovitsky on drums, with Chen Papa Meir adding varied percussion. Abramovitz's piano explorations extend beyond Middle Eastern and Mediterranean themes to Argentine, Cuban and other world music performed by his Afro-Cuban band "Kimbombo" and world fusion group "Rumbaladi."  So "Callejon de la Habana," not too surprisingly, is his composition. 

To avoid being pigeonholed, Stern performs jazz, rock, classical, metal and culturally diverse music while teaching and conducting children and youth orchestras. He also founded and manages several music centers and conservatories in Israel.  Likewise, Lachovitsky's tastes encompass jazz, rock, punk and world music, expressed via an extensive collection of instruments and techniques, including the traditional drum kit, congas, darbuka, djembe, guitar, didgeridoo, vocal beatboxing and Mongolian throat singing. Quite the skill set.  

The trio's deep skill sets and experience together show in this delightful, festive performance, making it an excellent introduction to their enjoyable music.