RUMBA CALZADA

Originally formed in 1991, by Boying Geronimo and now headed by his son, Raphael Geronimo, RUMBA CALZADA has been a favorite with Vancouver's Latin Jazz and Salsa enthusiasts for over 15 years.

Rumba Calzada's Vol.3 CD has been nominated for various awards including a 2002 Westcoast Music Award, a 2002 Canadian Independent Music Award, and a 2002 Juno Award. The band performs a powerful blend of Latin Jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms that are...

"Guaranteed to move your feet and
reach your soul". - Latin Beat
Magazine, Los Angeles

RAPHAEL GERONIMO - Percussionist, Composer, Instructor

Vancouver's interest and enthusiasm for Afro-Latin music can be linked directly to a handful of dedicated artists. Raphael Geronimo has been an integral part of the Vancouver Latin and Jazz scene for more than ten years, performing, teaching, writing and directing for many of the city's best-loved groups. Third generation in a family of professional musicians and dancers, he committed himself at age seventeen to serious musical studies under the direction of his father Boying Geronimo, and made his professional debut one year later.
Continuing his training he studied in Cuba at the Laboratorio Internacional de Folklore en la Habana and in New York City at the Harbour Center of Performing Arts. Raphael continues to lead and direct the band, Rumba Calzada.

Some hilights of his career include performances with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Philharmonic, Windsor Symphony, Montreal Jazz Festival with Oscar Lopez, and Vancouver International Jazz Festival with Rumba Calzada. Raphael has performed with award winner Poncho Sanchez, Sal Cracchiolo and the Juno nominee Chris Tarry Collective. Other groups he has performed and recorded with include Crash, Alma Libre, Meta 4 Collective, Vince Mai, Gay Delorem, Millenium Project and Soul Stream. Raphael has become known for a vibrant and original sound, which energizes any group he is associated with.

REVIEWS

Vancouver Impressions: Pinoy-Led Latin Band Makes Waves
by Mel Tobias (Planet Philippines)

Raphael (Rabbie) Geronimo, British Columbia’s leading percussionist and leader of the popular Latin band RUMBA CALZADA, recently released his 4th CD. It’s simply titled Rumba Calzada Album 4. There are 10 original songs with seven composed by Rabbie, who is no longer referred to as Boying Geronimo’s talented young son. If you recall, Boying was an accomplished and well-known musician and dancer both in the Philippines and Canada. He suffered a heart attack while performing at a leading Makati hotel in Manila. He died in June 1985. CLICK TO READ WHOLE REVIEW

Rumba Calzada – Album 4 (Warner)
by Cal Koat (World Beat Canada)

One could assume that for Rumba Calzada, an album title is not as important as acknowledging this particular point in the journey. The previous three albums from these Vancouver stalwarts on the Latin music scene have also received simple, numerical designations. It makes more sense when you consider that the band is continuing a legacy of Latin rhythms that goes back three generations to percussionist/leader Raphael Geronimo's grandfather. CLICK TO READ WHOLE REVIEW

QUOTES FROM THE PRESS

"This one stays in the CD player. A classic."
(Descarga.com, New York)

"Rumba Calzada now leads in the nuevo fusion Latin music movement and picked up a few award nominations along the way."
(The Philippine Star, Manila)

"... guaranteed to move your feet and reach your soul."
(Latin Beat Magazine, Los Angeles)

"If great things are worth waiting for then this soulful almost mesmerizing , project proves it."
(Descarga.com, New York)

"...a world class Latin Band."
(The Province, Vancouver, B.C.)

"The contagious sound is novel, contemporary, distinctive and perfect for either passive listening or active dancing."
(Planet Philippines, Manila)

"... it is more than refreshing to hear the deeply swinging, yet subter, approach offered by Rumba Calzada, arguably one of Canada's finest Latin bands."
(Descarga.com, New York)

"...another four star effort from one of our city's finest."
(Worldbeat, Canada)

"...labelled as Latin jazz, but the group leaps over that generic term by virtue of some clever arranging..."
(The Province, Vancouver, B.C.)