Kekele is Lingala for a Congo climbing vine, and it's also the name of a vivid all-star African group specializing in the unique blend of Afro-Cuban music termed 'Rumba Congolese'.

  The blend of Cuban rumba and African rhythms is evident from the first beat of the Latin conga drums, opening the first song before, one by one, band members join in with tight vocal harmonies and supporting instrumentation.

 Kekele has 10 members: three singers, accordion, sax, congas, trap drums, bass, and two guitarists.

 Tight, seamless rhythms flow their introductory number to a second, more ballad-like song which holds the same rumba beat - albeit a bit jazzier.

 Next, a lovely toe-tapper which got the audience moving: much more of a danceable rumba, with superb vocal harmonies and vocalist dancing. Here's where the small side spaces allotted for dancing really filled: even parents danced with small children; for Osher Marin JCC is a venue for the entire family; not just over-21 clubbers.

 The accordion can finally be heard in the introduction to the fourth song, which invites audience clap participation, while the rock-solid drummer drives the songs, supporting the vocals and congas without drowning them out.

 When the accordion takes a solo, it shines: most of the time it's in the background, lending depth to the overall band's effect and supporting the sax, with the result sounding like a full brass section instead of just two players.

 Intermission allowed for purchase of the band's two CDs, refreshments in the lobby, and stretching before Act 2 opened strong with the accordion and quite a different beat, with the wailing sax helping drive the rumba Congo Afro-Latin styles.

 Allotting the side areas for dancing rather than the more traditional front of the room was quite a wise move, allowing maximum viewing for the seated audience with maximum dancing without worries for any who wished to partake - and by the second set, the dance areas were full during every infectious song.

 At one point the seated audience was invited to stand up and dance in place - and everyone who was able, did.

 Kekele's acoustic guitars were somewhat drowned out by electric bass and drums, but an encore song allowing each player a solo demonstrated the prowess of the guitars alone.

 Kekele is a powerhouse band fueled by singers and players with decades of experience: their style of rumba Congolese provides powerful vocals backed with precision playing: an experience not to be missed.