House of Rhumba

New York City loves rhythm. It is fitting, then, that a spontaneous meeting on her beaches birthed the vibrant sounds of House of Rhumba. The three-man, Afro-Caribbean percussion ensemble fuses a deep soul sensibility with traditional Afro-Latin rhythms such as rumba, bomba, and plena to create a unique and dynamic sound which has invigorated dance music since its birth. Founded in New York City in 2000 by house music DJ “Papo Swing” (née Norberto Alicea) with percussionists Nicholas “Niko” Laboy and Obanilu Ire Allende Solana, House of Rhumba has distinguished itself as an innovative voice within the dance music scene, fusing a street rumba style with supple soul and electrifying beats.