Tiempo Libre: Classical to Cuban

Take the D Major Prelude to Bach’s "Well-Tempered Clavier, Book One," add to that a few hundred years, multiply that by hours of lessons at one of Cuba’s finest conservatories, divide that by the number of singers and drums at a typical rumba, then add the square root of the number of Beatles songs smuggled into Cuba in 1960s, and you might get something like Cuban band Tiempo Libre’s CD “Bach in Havana,” out this week.

It’s a collection of songs inspired by Bach and taken in new directions with Cuban rythms, vocals, and enduring spirit. Jorge Gomez, pianist, bandleader and arranger for the Grammy-nominated band, took a break in the studio with us as Tiempo Libre prepares for its show at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord tonight.

(Photo by Crackerfarm)