Camelia Latin Jazz Band

Based in Somerville Massachusetts



The "Camelia Latin jazz Band" exists as a trio (3-piece), quartet (4-piece), quintet (5-piece) and sextet (6-piece). All 4 sizes share the same song list, which consists of 2 categories: popular American jazz songs performed with Latin rhythms, and well-known Spanish songs performed with new Latin arrangements.

The trio (or quartet) specializes in "non-interfering" and "non-boring" live background music and can be as mellow or upbeat as needed or wanted. And by using a hand percussion instead of a drum set, it also takes very little space and will fit in any corner. For outdoor shows, festivals, concerts and other activities where a fuller sound is preferred, the sextet (or quintet) is offered.

The instrumentation of the trio consists of: Spanish-electric guitar, keyboard (which also takes care of the bass) and a hand percussion (congas or bongos), and for the larger ensembles a separate bass and more percussions are added. 

The style can be best described as: instrumental Latin rhythms with jazz solos. The group has added jazz improvisation not only to the salsa rhythm (which is more common), but also to the merengue, cumbia, bachata and bolero, creating this way what they call: “salsa-jazz”, “merengue-jazz”, “cumbia-jazz”, “bachata-jazz” and “bolero-jazz”.

The bolero-jazz and bachata-jazz are focused on when a more mellow type of atmosphere is needed or wanted, while for more lively occasions the salsa-jazz and merengue-jazz are emphasized. 

The "Camelia Latinjazz Band" performs regularly at private events and less frequently at public venues.

Roderick Camelia is a native of Curaçao, a Caribbean island, a full-time musician and a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston MA. He plays lead guitar within the group, as well as serving as its musical director and manager. He comes from a musical family and is well-versed in many Latin and Caribbean styles.


TRIO, Crazy, bachata-jazz, 5-14-2014 Camelia Latinjazz Band
SEXTET, Crazy, bachata-jazz, 6-5-2010 Camelia Latinjazz Band
TRIO, All Of Me, cumbia-jazz, 7-28-2015 Camelia Latinjazz Band
QUINTET, All Of Me, cumbia-jazz, 8-29-2015 Camelia Latinjazz Band
TRIO, Misty, salsa-jazz, 4-7-2016 Camelia Latinjazz Band
QUARTET, Misty, salsa-jazz, 6-2-2012 Camelia Latinjazz Band
TRIO, The Shadow Of Your Smile, bolero-jazz, 8-5-2015 Camelia Latinjazz Band.
QUINTET, The Shadow Of Your Smile, bolero-jazz, 10-8-2015 Camelia Latinjazz Band.
TRIO, Autumn Leaves, merengue-jazz, 4-7-2016 Camelia Latinjazz Band
SEXTET, Autumn Leaves, merengue-jazz, 6-5-2010 Camelia Latinjazz Band