Ozomatli

Ozomatli is a Latin funk/worldbeat/rock en español group, formed in 1996 in Los Angeles, known as much for their extremely vocal activist viewpoints as their huge array of musical styles.

Ozomatli is named after the Nahuatl name for the monkey astrological symbol within the Aztec calendar, as well as God of Dance, of Fire, the new Harvest of Music, Orchestrator of the Jungle. Consisting of Raúl Pacheco, Ulises Bella, Jiro Yamaguchi, Jose Espinosa, Wil-Dog Abers, William Marrufo, Pablo Castorena, Justin Porée, Asdru Sierra, Michael Duffy, Rene Dominguez, and Jabu MC, Ozomatli played the Los Angeles and San Diego border area club scene, eventually making their first mass-market appearance on Vibe!. Afterwords, the group released their eponymous debut album in June 1998, under the Almo Sounds label. Ozomatli has released two other albums; Embrace the Chaos in 2001, and Street Signs in 2004, with Interscope and Concord Jazz, respectively. Eddie Palmieri, who is also on the Concord Jazz label, is a featured performer on Street Signs.

Embrace the Chaos was released on the auspicious date of September 11, 2001. Although many American bands cancelled their concerts, Ozomatli gained some recognition for continuing to play their concerts, all the while continuing their commitment to social justice, progressive politics, as well as the 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 blend of many cultural styles on Street Signs can be a little disconcerting, with vocals mentioning the Yakuza crossing paths with gnawa trance; or Moroccan sintir virtuoso Hassan Hakmoun, joining the band along with Les Yeux Noir and the Prague Symphony. Also accompanying are David Hidalgo of Los Lobos and Mario Calire of The Wallflowers.

In 2000, Ozomatli played at the Democratic National Convention, on a set right before Rage Against the Machine. The group also received the 2002 Grammy Award for 'Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album'. They were featured in Newsweek and on the Univision program Despierta America in June 2004. Ozomatli is currently on tour in Europe, where they have a strong following, having recently played the Glastonbury Festival.

Ozomatli has twice performed at the Austin, Texas mega music festival South by Southwest, most recently in 2004, when 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, and although some of the charges were eventually dropped, Jiro Yamoguchi, who may be charged with assaulting an officer, which is a felony in Texas.

Several members, formerly of Ozomatli, went on to other projects, most notably Cut Chemist, who forged a DJ solo career, and MC Chali 2na, who joined Jurassic 5.