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In 2023 Atabal celebrated 40 years since percussionist Héctor Rodríguez co-founded the band, and this month they started their 41st year with a remarkable performance at the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián.
Atabal ‘s 40th Anniversary
Atabal has been playing Afro-Caribbean music with a contemporary twist since 1983. Last year they celebrated their 40th anniversary, so I’m a year late writing about it. But better late than never. Their name comes from the word “atabal”, which means “drum” in Arabic and Spanish. The band’s founder and director, Héctor “Atabal” Rodríguez, was a renowned percussionist who grew up in the Tras Talleres neighborhood in Santurce Puerto Rico.
In their early days, the band focused on Afro-Caribbean percussion rhythms, a concept Hector borrowed from Cuban percussion groups like Los Munequitos de Matanzas and Los Papines. The band slowly began emphasizing more the Afro-Puerto Rican rhythms of Bomba and Plena, two genres that emerged from the African diaspora in Puerto Rico. Bomba is a drum-based music that involves a dialogue between the dancer and the drummer, who responds to the dancer’s movements with rhythmic variations. Plena is a vocal and percussion music that narrates the stories and events of the people, often with a humorous or satirical tone.
Atabal ‘s Music and Albums
After Hector’s passing in 2020, his son Caymmi Rodríguez took over the band’s leadership. Caymmi has continued the evolution of Atabal’s concept and music, continuing its fusion of Afro-Puerto Rican rhythms with elements of Salsa, Jazz, and other elements, including spices of urban music. This evolution has given Atabal a more contemporary sound that appeals to the younger generations, while still maintaining its folkloric roots.
The band has released several albums, such as “Atabal”, “Soneros en la Plena”, “Ya Son 30: Antología”, “Andy y Atabal” (one of my favorites with another son of Tras Talleres, Andy Montañez), and “Yo Soy Atabal”, a tribute to their late founder Héctor Rodríguez. Their latest album, “En la Batalla”, features collaborations with Caymmi Rodríguez, Kily Vializ, Tito La R, and Gabylon. The album’s title track is a plena that expresses the resilience and pride of the Puerto Rican people in the face of adversity.
Atabal has performed in many local and international venues, such as the Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Fest, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and the Montreux Jazz Festival. They highlighted their 40th-anniversary celebration with their performance at the 2023 edition of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
Performance at Fiestas Calle San Sebastián
Atabal has been a fixture at the Fiestas de las Calle San Sebastián. This year, with the Fiestas theme of “Al Ritmo de la Bomba” (To the Rhythm of Bomba), their presentation had more significance as they it’s one of the rhythms they specialize in. It couldn’t be a more fitting start to Atabal’s 41st year.
Atabal’s presentation was on Friday, January 19, at the Plaza de la Barandilla, one of the four stages that hosted live music shows during the four-day event. They played to an estimated record-breaking crowd, which enjoyed listening and dancing to their music. The band also paid tribute to Ismael Rivera, the legendary salsa singer who was born in Santurce. With Rafael Cortijo, Ismael helped revitalize the rhythm of Bomba.
Here’s a video of one of Atabal’s performances at the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián when Héctor was still with the group.
Atabal ‘s Legacy and Invitation
Atabal is more than a band; it is a musical family that shares a passion for percussion and Puerto Rican culture. Their music is a celebration of the diversity and richness of the Afro-Puerto Rican heritage, as well as a reflection of the contemporary realities and challenges of the island.
Atabal invites us to join them in their musical journey and to enjoy the rhythms and melodies that make us dance and sing. If you want to learn more about Atabal, you can visit their YouTube channel, their EthnoCloud profile, or their website.
#atabal #fiestascallesansebastian #sanse2024
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