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Yoav Lachovitsky

Yoav Lachovitsky is an Israeli drummer and composer whose playing combines rhythmic depth, sensitivity, and a strong sense of musical interaction. He studied at the Jazz Department of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and at the Rimon School of Music in Israel, experiences that helped shape his musical voice and broaden his artistic perspective.

Lachovitsky’s work is rooted in jazz while drawing inspiration from a variety of musical traditions. As part of his exploration of Afro Latin music, he also studied in Cuba at La ENA, where he deepened his understanding of Latin rhythms and ensemble playing.

Throughout his career he has collaborated with a range of musicians and ensembles, including Ilan Virtsberg, Tribal Makers, and The Doo Wop Girls, among others.

He is also the drummer of the Israeli modern jazz trio ATEMPO, where his playing contributes to the ensemble’s dynamic musical dialogue and rhythmic drive. Reviewing the trio’s performance in Germany, journalist Uta Gerhold described Lachovitsky’s playing as if he had “eight arms,” highlighting the energy, precision, and coordination he brings to the music.

Atempo: Callejón de la Habana

Read "Callejón de la Habana" reviewed by Carl Medsker

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 ...

“Yoav Lachovitsky proves to be an eight-armed drummer, driving the music forward with energy, precision and remarkable rhythmic imagination.”

— Uta Gerhold, Rhein-Zeitung

“Drummer Yoav Lachovitsky brings quite the skill set, combining a traditional drum kit with a wide range of percussion instruments and techniques.”

— Carl Medsker, All About Jazz

“The trio’s drummer Yoav Lachovitsky delights the audience with masterful playing and varied dynamics.”