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Ozomatli
Since its inception in 1995, innovation and creativity have defined Ozomatli. Hailing from Los Angeles, the group found a way to represent the city’s eclectic culture through music that appeals to the local community and the world beyond. Ozomatli’s success is exemplified in an impressive variety of genres from classic to modern Latino, urban, hip-hop and other world styles. The “Dioses del Baile,” or “Gods of Dance,” have created one of the most exciting, captivating and flat-out fun live shows touring today. They continue to harness their musical instincts by conceiving new concepts and forging new sounds that keep fans on their toes and the world dancing.
The band is currently in the studio working on their latest recording: Ozo-fied Volume 1: A Century of Mexican Classics, an album of classic Mexican hits reimagined with a reggae feel. This record will pay homage to the band’s Latin roots, allowing them to personalize songs that defined their youth and in turn, become part of Latin and Pop music lore. Produced by drum & bass reggae legends, Sly & Robbie (Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Madonna, No Doubt) and featuring various high profile guest vocalists, the album recreates the magic of classic Latin hits with a reggae dancehall vibe that only Ozomatli could make feel as natural as waves rolling in the Caribbean sands.
Prior to paying respects to the classic Latin catalogue, Ozomatli was creating its own repertoire adored by fans and critics alike. The band catapulted to the top of the live music scene with its first eponymously titled album. The impact of the then 10-piece band’s album was felt throughout the music world, and earned them the opportunity to open for Carlos Santana on his Supernatural tour. Following the success of its first album and touring with Santana and Mana, Ozomatli released its sophomore album, Embrace the Chaos, which garnered a Grammy award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album. The follow up album, Street Signs, won both the same award and the Latin Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2005.
Ozomatli takes firm stances on various social justice issues. Their work focuses on giving voice to Latino culture, opportunity to children, fighting for workers’ rights, and promoting global unity and peace amongst people, cultures and nations. Ozomatli were named Cultural Ambassadors for the U.S. State Department in 2006, was the first musical group to speak at the TED Conference in San Francisco, and performed for President and First Lady Obama at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 32nd Annual Award Gala.
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A Fireside Chat with Ozomatli
by AAJ Staff
Unlike most bands burgeoning from MTV's cultural significance, the members of Ozomatli are seasoned veterans of the Los Angeles underground, anonymous to commercial conventions and unimpressed by exploited riches. Curiously, Ozomatli is detached from the pretentiousness and the staple of insincerity that is Hollywood. But that common man character only serves to endear Ozo to its loyal listeners, who turn out in impressive numbers to support the band.
All About Jazz: Apart from its awkward release 9/11, what ...
read moreOzomatli Reviewed, Jazz Education Network Conference Previewed
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
For your Sunday night/Monday morning perusal, some links from over the weekend:Ozomatli was in St. Louis on Friday night, performing at Blueberry Hill in place of their canceled date at Powell Symphony Hall. Ben McMahon was there to cover the show for the Riverfront Times, and you can read his review online here.Meanwhile, on Thursday the Jazz Education Network will open its first-ever national conference at the University of Missouri St. Louis. The event runs through ...
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Jazz This Week: James Carter Organ Trio, Ozomatli, Tsigoti, Willerm Delisfort, Stephanie Trick, and More
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
Though the biggest jazz name in St. Louis this weekend is a saxophonist, it's also a good week to hear some piano players, with four different events featuring talented pianists working in styles ranging from ragtime and stride to swing, bop and blues to free-form and experimental. Let's go to the highlights:Tonight, saxophonist James Carter's Organ Trio begins a four-night run at Jazz at the Bistro. A versatile performer with a wide stylistic range and serious chops on ...
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Green River Festival: Low Anthem Cake, Ozomatli, Old Crow
Source:
JamBase
STRONG LINEUP GATHERS IN MASSACHUSETTS
Located in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and presented by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, the annual Green River Festival combines music on multiple stages, local food, crafts, a dance tent, a wide array of kids' activities, and is the only music festival in Massachusetts that features hot air balloons and balloon rides. This two-day festival takes place July 17-18, 2010. Here's the lineup:
Ozomatli Saturday, July 17 Ozomatli Old Crow Medicine Show ...
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Ozomatli Concert on Friday, May 14 Moved from Powell Hall to Blueberry Hill
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
The collaborative concert featuring the Latin/funk/jazz/hip-hop group Ozomatli (pictured) and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, announced earlier this year and originally scheduled for next Friday, May 14 at Powell Symphony Hall, is off.Instead, Ozomatli will perform on their own, without any members of the SLSO, at 8 p.m. on May 14 at Blueberry Hill's Duck Room. (The band also will do an in-store appearance down the street at Vintage Vinyl at 5:30 p.m. that day.)According to ...
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Ozomatli: Fire Away out Now
Source:
JamBase
OZOMATLI FIRE AWAY OUT NOW ON MERCER STREET RECORDS/DOWNTOWN RECORDS
Ozomatli Last week Ozomatli released their new full length album Fire Away. Fire Away is the three time Grammy Award-winning band's fifth studio full length, and first for the NYC based Mercer Street Records/Downtown Records. Produced by acclaimed producer Tony Berg, Fire Away features eleven new Ozo songs (full track listing below), including the first single “It's Only Paper," currently serviced to radio.
Fire Away is arguably Ozomatli's most diverse ...
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Ozomatli's 'Fire Away'
Source:
Michael Ricci
Not many L.A. bands can boast of having a piece of the calendar named in their honor.
But April 23 was recently designated by the city as Ozomatli Day to give props to the artistically mongrel ensemble that for 15 years has been burning holes in local dance floors that is, when they're not playing gala gigs for Barack and Michelle Obama, or touring as official State Department cultural ambassadors, preaching peace, love and kick-butt hip-hop/salsa beats in Myanmar, China ...
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Ozomatli: Album and Tour Dates
Source:
JamBase
Upcoming Ozomatli Album and Tour Dates
Ozomatli Los Angeles culture-mashers Ozomatli are set to release their new album, Fire Away April 20 on Mercer Street Records / Downtown Records.
Fire Away is the Grammy Award-winning band's fifth studio full-length, and first for the NYC based Mercer Street Records / Downtown Records. Produced by acclaimed producer Tony Berg (Aimee Mann, Pete Yorn), Fire Away features eleven new Ozo songs.
Ozomatli's music is a collision of hip hop and salsa, dancehall and ...
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SLSO to Perform with Chris Botti, Ozomatli
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2010-2011 schedule, and the slate of upcoming concerts includes some events of interest to fans of jazz and creative music.For starters, the Orchestra has added some dates to its “SLSO Presents" series this spring, among them the Ozomatli concert on Friday, May 14 that was first mentioned here on StLJN earlier this week. The big additional news is that Ozomatli won't just be playing their regular show - they'll actually ...
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Pollstar: Jeff Beck, Ozomatli Coming to St. Louis
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
The online touring information service Pollstar has just added a listing for a St. Louis show by guitarist Jeff Beck (pictured) on Thursday, April 29 at the Fox Theatre.It's one of seven new U.S. dates just added to the schedule for Beck, who doesn't tour all that often. (Perhaps some astute reader will chime in via the comments with info on when he last played St. Louis.)Beck's got a large and diverse fan base, from rock ...
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Ozomatli: Album/Tour w/ Tuna
Source:
JamBase
OZOMATLI SIGN WITH MERCER STREET - NEW DOWNTOWN MUSIC IMPRINT Ozomatli currently in the studio recording new music for '09 release US State Department trip now confirmed for May '09 With Ozo performances in Myanmar, Vietnam and Russia
Ozomatli Ozomatli will be bringing their pioneering mash-up of hip-hop, salsa, and cumbia to Downtown Music's new imprint, Mercer Street Records, inking a just completed deal with the fledgling NYC-based label.
Mercer Street's goal is to ...
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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
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Ozomatli
Location: Los Angeles
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
Formed: 1995
