Chen Papa Meir

Atempo: Callejón de la Habana

by Carl Medsker
March 4, 2026

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 ...