Ozomatli is a multiethnic nine piece band (although they have had as many as ten members, and as few as six), playing primarily Latin, hip hop, and rock, formed in 1995 in Los Angeles. They are known both for their vocal activist viewpoints and their wide array of musical styles - including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, and others.[1]
History
Ozomatli take their name from the Nahuatl word for the Aztec astrological symbol of the monkey, which is also a god of dance, fire, the new harvest, and music.[2]
The members of the band met through their affiliation with the Peace and Justice Center of Los Angeles, and their first performance was for picketers during a strike. They began their career in the Los Angeles and San Diego/Mexico border-area club scene. Following an appearance in Vibe magazine, the group broke into the mainstream, releasing Ozomatli, their self-titled debut album, in June 1998 under the Almo Sounds label.
Ozomatli's second album, Embrace the Chaos, was released on the inauspicious date of September 11 2001. Although many American bands cancelled their concerts, Ozomatli gained some recognition for continuing to play their concerts,citation needed all the while continuing their commitment to social justice and progressive politics, in addition to the rising anti-war movement. Afterwards, the band made a further commitment to a new direction in music, embracing North African and Arab musical styles in addition to their own.
The musical styles of many cultures are blended on 2004's Street Signs, with vocals mentioning the Yakuza crossing paths with gnawa trance; or Moroccan sintir virtuoso Hassan Hakmoun, joining the band along with Les Yeux Noirs and the Prague Symphony Orchestra. Also accompanying are David Hidalgo of Los Lobos and Mario Calire of The Wallflowers. The salsa pioneer Eddie Palmieri, who is on the Concord Jazz label, is a featured performer on Street Signs. In 2005, Street Signs won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album.
In late 2006 DJ Spinobi left the band to pursue personal projects, and to date has not been replaced.
April 3, 2007 saw the release of their 4th studio album Don't Mess With The Dragon which was co-produced by K. C. Porter.
In a 2007 NPR interview, band members Jiro Yamaguchi and Ulises Bella describe Ozomatli:
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You drive down Sunset Boulevard and turn off your stereo and roll down your windows and all the music that comes out of each and every different car, whether it's salsa, cumbia, merengue, or hip hop, funk or whatever, it's that crazy blend that's going on between that cacophony of sound is Ozomatli, y'know?[3] |
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On September 20, 2007, Ozomatli announced that MC Jabu was leaving the group on amicable terms.[4]
Starting in January 2008, Ozomatli began hosting a local music show named "Ozolocal" on 98.7 FM in Los Angeles, CA. The show airs every Saturday night from 8-9PM.[5]
Starting in August 20, 2008, Ozomalti will be the new morning show hosts on 98.7 FM. [6]
Notable performances
Carlos Santana offered the band one of their early breaks as his opening act during his 1998 tour to promote Supernatural.
In 1999 they appeared in the Drew Barrymore movie Never Been Kissed. They are the band playing in the reggae club when she ingests "Ganja cake", a cake with Marijuana. She then gets up to dance on stage as they play "Cut Chemist Suite." Before she eats the cake, they are performing "Cumbia De Los Muertos." Appeared in HBOs Sex and the City episode "They Shoot Single People, Don't They?" airing 27 June 1999.
During the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, Ozomatli played a live concert before thousands of protesters across the street from the Staples Center. Also performing at the protest was Rage Against the Machine.
The group received the 2002 Grammy Award for 'Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album'.
After playing at Coachella, Ozomatli were featured in Newsweek and on the Univision program Despierta America in June 2004.
Ozomatli has performed three times at the Austin, Texas mega music festival South by Southwest, most recently in 2007.
In 2004 the group was confronted while performing outside of a club where they would later have a concert. Two members of the band, as well as the manager, were arrested. The charges were eventually dropped. After this, the band was scheduled to perform at the Latin Grammy Awards, where they were introduced by George Lopez: "And now, a band that is very excited to learn that their performance tonight counts as community service, Ozomatli!"
Austin City Limits featured the band on the November 13, 2004 episode preceded by The Polyphonic Spree.[2]
In January 2005, Ozomatli was the opening band of Jamcruise 3. The band made several other scheduled — and impromptu — performances during the four-day cruise.
In March 2005, Ozomatli played at WOMAdelaide, a world music festival in Adelaide, South Australia. After refusing to leave the stage 15 minutes late during one of their two night sets, they leaped into the crowd for a 45-minute encore.
The 2006-09-25 episode of the Showtime comedy/drama Weeds featured the show’s opening theme music — Little Boxes, written by Malvina Reynolds — performed by Ozomatli. The second season of Weeds has featured a different performer and musical genre each week for its theme song.
In February 2007, Ozomatli toured throughout India and Nepal, sponsored by the State Department.
On June 14, 2007 Ozomatli performed at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco for the Apple WWDC Bash.
From July 22 to July 30, 2007, Ozomatli toured though Tunisia (1 performance), Jordan (4 performances) and Egypt (2 performances), sponsored by the State Department. The concerts were staged in interesting locations such as amphitheaters (Jordan), citadels (Egypt, Cairo), and forts (Egypt, Alexandria).
On August 29, 2007, Ozomatli performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
On April 15, 2008, Ozomatli performed "Esa Morena" live on a results show of season six of ABC's Dancing With The Stars[7].
The band headlined a feature stage (Gentilly) at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to a capacity crowd of thousands, featuring Chali 2Na and a local New Orleans Jr highschool jazz band on stage.
The band is currently the supporting act for O.A.R.'s 2008 "All Sides" tour, where they regularly appear with the band to perform the song "Whatever Happened".
Members
Current members
- Wil-Dog Abers: Bass, marimbula, background vocals
- Raúl 'El Bully' Pacheco: Guitar, tres, jarana, vocals
- Justin 'El Niño' Porée: Percussion, rap vocals
- Asdru Sierra: Trumpet, lead vocals, piano,
- Ulises Bella: Saxophone, background vocals, requinto jarocho, keyboard, melodica
- Jiro Yamaguchi: Tabla, cajon, assorted percussion and background vocals
- Mario Calire: Drums
- Sheffer Bruton: Trombone
- Tre Hardson (The Pharcyde): rap vocals, background vocals
Past members
- Chali 2na: Rap vocals on Ozomatli
- Cut Chemist: Turntables on Ozomatli and as a guest on Embrace the Chaos
- William Marrufo: Drums on Ozomatli
- Jose Espinoza: Alto sax on Ozomatli
- Kid.W.I.K.: Turntables on Vocal Artillery (T-Ray Version) feat. Angelo Moore, Dilated Peoples, Kanetic Source & Chali 2na and in between Ozomatli and Embrace the Chaos
- Andy Mendoza: Drums on Embrace the Chaos
- Kanetic Source: Rap vocals on Embrace the Chaos
- Rene 'DJ Spinobi' Dominguez: Turntables on Embrace the Chaos, Street Signs, and Don't Mess with the Dragon
- M.C. Jabu Smith-Freeman: Rap vocals on Street Signs and Don't Mess with the Dragon
Discography
Studio albums
Live albums
EP
Collaborations
References
Ozomatli was mentioned in Keith Snyder's novel The Night Men.
External links
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