Rumba Calzada

Rumba Calzada's recently released Generations CD is a vigorous collection of songs written mainly by band members, and it stands up well against tunes coming out of Latin music hotbeds like New York City and Miami. While the whole band sounds finely tuned, Oliver Santamaria's assured vocals and multi-instrumentalist Victor Bongat's adroit solos stand out. The 27-year-old Geronimo, who studied percussion in Havana and New York, also impresses with his fiery drumming on the timbales. It's clear that Geronimo has adapted well to the bandleader role, although he acknowledges that all the legwork involved in organizing an active eight-member band hasn't make it easy. "It's been really stressful but at the same time really fulfilling" says Geronimo, who has his father's effervescent smile. In fact Generations is appropriately titled. "I think my father's spirit is very much in the music" says Geronimo, who also plays with Vancouver bands such as Soul Crib and the Mo'funk Collective.

Volume 3

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Nominated for the 2002 West Coast Music Award: Best Roots - Traditional Release and for the 2002 Canadian Independent Music Award: World Album of the Year, Rumba Calzada's third release "Volume 3" is a fantastic combination of Afro-Cuban rhythms and Latin grooves. "Nena Baila" closes out the disc and provides an opportunity to witness a live performance captured by CBC's mobile recorders at the "Sounds Like Summer" festival at Blue Mountain Park, Coquitlam, BC. If you are ready to rumba, jump at any opportunity to catch the amazing Rumba Calzada live!