Rumba Calzada

Artist Website

Originally formed in 1991, by Boying Geronimo and now headed by his son, Raphael Geronimo, Rumba Calzada has been a favourite with Vancouver’s Latin Jazz and Salsa enthusiasts for over 25 years. Their CD, Volume 3 has been nominated for various awards including a 2002 Westcoast Music Award, a 2002 Canadian Independent Music Award and a 2003 Juno Award.  

Their 2007 release, Rumba Calzada Album 4, was nominated for a 2008 Western Canadian Music Award for Outstanding World Recording of the Year.  In 2008 the band performed at the Borneo Jazz Festival, in Sarawak, Malaysia and was voted the “crowd favourite” to return in 2009.  In 2023 a Latin Jazz / Salsa flavoured arrangement of the 1979 hit song ‘Pop Muzik’ by M Robin Scott recorded with Rumba Calzada was released on April 22, 2023 Record Store Day. 

The band’s latest 2023 release, Rumba Calzada Feel the Sun, was nominated for a 2024 Western Canadian Music Award for Global Artist of the Year. On May 4th, 2024 Rumba Calzada performed as the closing act for the Philippine International Jazz Festival, in Manila, Philippines. 

The song, with its “shoobedoobeedoowop” backing vocals and frothy melody, works great with this Latin jazz and salsa – flavoured arrangement which Scott recorded with the group Rumba Calzada.

– Brooklyn Vegan , New York 

“Canadian based Rumba Calzada brought the house down with their eclectic mix of Latin, Salsa and Afro-Cuban rhythms.”

– Adam Lee, Music-Room – Malaysia  

Regresa una vez la sensacion de Vancouver, Rumba Calzada, con su mas reciente y quinto disco Feel the Sun.

– Solar Latin Club – Cali, Colombia 

Photo by Diane Smithers