Ozomatli
Ozomatli is an American rock band, formed in 1995 in Los Angeles. They are known both for their vocal activist viewpoints and incorporating a wide array of musical styles – including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, hip hop, and others.[4] The group formed in 1995 and has since released seven studio albums. The group is also known for advocating for farm-workers' rights and immigration reform. The band has performed in various countries all over the world, including China, Tunisia, Jordan, Cuba, and Burma. Although the band has had many member changes over the years and has sometimes had as many as ten members, the current six members have been in the band since its debut album.
This article is about the music group. For the Aztec day sign Ozomahtli, see Aztec calendar.
Ozomatli
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1995–present
Almo Sounds (1998–1999)
Interscope (2001–2002)
Concord/Real World (2004–2007)
Downtown/Mercer Street (2010)
Hornblow/Vanguard (2012–)
Cleopatra Records (2017)[2]
ONErpm (2019)[3]
Blue Élan Records (2021–)
In 1998, Ozomatli released its self-titled debut album, and soon after opened for Santana on their Supernatural Tour. The group released Embrace the Chaos in 2001, followed by Street Signs in 2004. Don't Mess with the Dragon followed in 2007, which saw the band experimenting with a more diverse array of musical styles. The group composed music for Happy Feet 2 and recorded Ozomatli Presents Ozokidz, a family-friendly album. From 2011 to 2014, Ozomatli also served as the house band for stand-up comedian Gabriel Iglesias' television show, Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand Up Revolution.
History[edit]
1995–1998: Formation and debut album[edit]
Ozomatli take their name from the Nahuatl word from the astrological symbol of the monkey, taken from the Aztec calendar. Ozomatli is also a god of dance, fire, the new harvest, and music.[5] In 1995, all the members met while attempting to form a workers union within Los Angeles. Though they were not able to win recognition, they were given an abandoned building for one month. The building turned into a cultural arts center, and within it Ozomatli was born.[6]
In a 2007 NPR interview, band members Jiro Yamaguchi and Ulises Bella describe Ozomatli:
Social and political activism[edit]
Ozomatli create music to: give voice to and reveal the culture and lives of Latinos;[29] fight for workers' rights;[30] and promote a global unity within both the city and the world. They promote this through their music, during their TEDxSF talk, and as Cultural Ambassadors of the US.
featured the band on the November 13, 2004, episode preceded by The Polyphonic Spree.[31]
Austin City Limits
On April 15, 2008, Ozomatli performed "Esa Morena" live on a results show of of ABC's Dancing With The Stars.[32]
season six
In February 2010, Ozomatli performed at the Musicares Person of the Year event honoring Neil Young.
[33]
In May 2010, Ozomatli performed their first symphony collaboration with .[34]
The Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra
From May 21 to June 4, 2010, Ozomatli performed in Mongolia and China as part of their Cultural Ambassadors program.
[35]
In September 2010, Ozomatli partnered with NCLR (National Council of La Raza) to release "Respeto", a widget download campaign, to encourage voter participation.
[36]
In September 2010, Ozomatli headlined the Hollywood Bowl for KCRW's World Music Festival 2010 featuring performances from Calexico, Mexican Institute Of Sound, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles and dance performances by Grandeza Mexicana.
[37]
In September 2010, Ozomatli's video to "All Around The World" was released.
On September 15, 2010, Ozomatli performed a free show at the Kennedy Center in celebration of Mexico's Bicentennial Independence.
[38]
In September 2010, Apple uses Ozomatli's Fire Away album cover as their campaign image.
[39]
In October 2010, Ozomatli performed at the USC Presidential Rally with Barack Obama.
[40]
In October 2010, Ozomatli released a cover of Caifanes’ "Nubes"
[42]
In October 2010, Ozomatli was awarded the KCET Local Heroes Award for their humanitarian contributions in Los Angeles.
[43]
On November 2, 2010, Ozomatli released iTunes Sessions, rethinking and reimagining classic songs.
[44]
In November 2010, Ozomatli collaborated with the at the USC/Notre Dame half-time show.[46]
Trojan Marching Band
In March 2011, Ozomatli was awarded the NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Capital Awards.
[47]
Ozomatli teamed up with The David Lynch Foundation (DLF) in March 2011 to help launch the organization's "Download for Good" campaign on PledgeMusic. Other artists in the compilations included: , Au Revoir Simone, Ben Folds, Peter Gabriel, Mary Hopkin, Moby, Maroon 5, Neon Trees, Heather Nova, Iggy Pop, Carmen Rizzo, Salman Ahmad, Slightly Stoopid, Dave Stewart, Andy Summers and Tom Waits.[48]
Arrested Development
On May 6, 2011, Ozomatli performed at the seventh annual MusiCares® MAP Fund® benefit concert which honored Depeche Mode lead singer Dave Gahan and Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman.
[49]
In the summer of 2011, the Happy Feet Two Videogame soundtrack was released, which featured music written and composed by Ozomatli.
[20]
In June 2011, the original track "Jardinero" by Ozomatli, composed for the film , was digitally released by Nacional Records.[50]
A Better Life
Continuing their role as Cultural Ambassadors of the U.S. State Department, from July 4–11, Ozomatli did performed a number of shows in Poland.
[51]
In October 2011, Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution premiered on Comedy Central. The TV show featured Ozomatli as the house band and in its music video "Hey, it's Fluffy!"
[52]
In January 2012, Ozomatli performed at the Time Warner Center in New York for the American Songbook Series.
[53]
The Voto Latino iTunes Compilation from March 2012 featured an Ozomatli song in the free 35-track download, which also included music from , Ceci Bastida, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Diego Garcia and more, aimed to encourage voter awareness.[54]
Pitbull
Ozomatli was part of the "Create a State" campaign in March 2012 for the California Arts Council aimed to raise funds for arts and arts education programs. The campaign also included the support of artists , Herb Alpert, Annette Bening, Jack Black, Eli Broad, Father Greg Boyle, Vernon Davis, Plácido Domingo, The Edge, Harrison Ford, David Geffen, Frank Gehry, Cast of Glee, Macy Gray, Quincy Jones, Steve Martin, Wolfgang Puck, Robert Redford, Tim Robbins, Ed Ruscha, Maria Shriver, Russell Simmons, and Alice Waters.[55]
Debbie Allen
In March 2012, Ozomatli teamed up with composer, conductor, and performer for a performance at NASA Ames in Mountain View for the Conrad Foundation Spirit of Innovation Summit.[56]
Anthony Marinelli
In April 2012, Ozomatli was featured in Jack Johnson & Friends – Best of the Kokua Festival, a 13-track compilation of live performances from the Kokua Festival with musicians , Jackson Browne, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Ziggy Marley, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Taj Mahal, G. Love, John Cruz, Paula Fuga, Zach Gill and more.[57]
Willie Nelson
Ozomatli appeared in the anniversary edition of Which Way, LA? in the "Cultural Touchstones of the LA Riots" segment with host Warren Olney on KCRW.
[58]
On April 29, 2012, Ozomatli was honored at the 5th Annual California Lawyers for the Arts' Artistic License Awards in Santa Monica to recognize the band's artistic work in the communities it serves.
[59]
In May 2012, Ozomatli kicked off the opening celebration with a performance at NAFSA's 2012 Annual Conference & Expo. in downtown Houston.
[60]
In June 2012, Ozomatli headlined the 34th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.
[61]
Sesame Street: Elmo's Musical Monsterpiece video game by Warner Bros. was released in June 2012, which included a musical score performed by Ozomatli.
[21]
Ozomatli performed with The New York Pops led by Music Director Steven Reineke at SummerStage NYC 2012.
[62]
In July 2012, Ozomatli recorded an episode for the Choo Choo Bob show in Minneapolis.
[63]
Throughout the summer and fall of 2012, Ozomatli teamed up with HeadCount to provide voting registration at Ozomatli shows.
[64]
In July 2012, PBS KIDS ROCKS! album was released. It includes tracks by Ozomatli, The Weepies and They Might Be Giants.
[23]
In September 2012, Ozomatli released their album Ozomatli Presents Ozokidz.
[27]
October 2012 marked the premiere of Gabriel Iglesias' Stand-Up Revolution Season 2 on Comedy Central with Ozomatli as the house band. The show also premiered the music video Stand-Up Revolution with Gabriel Iglesias.
[65]
In November, Ozomatli performed at the 2012 Voices for Justice Dinner in L.A. to celebrate the work of Congolese activist Abbé Benoît Kinalegu with , the founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative, as a special guest.[66]
Ben Affleck
In the November 16, 2012, episode of the , Ozomatli received a special mention for being the first band to visit Burma (now Myanmar) in 2009.[67]
Rachel Maddow Show
In November 2012, Ozomatli performed at The 5th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting at L.A. LIVE celebration along with Barry Manilow, Cody Simpson, Sarah Brightman, and Eric Benet.
[68]
The debut of the "Hey, it's Fluffy" cartoons with the music of Ozomatli premiered in November 2012.
[69]
In December 2012, the first Ozokidz video "Balloon Fest" premiered.
Ozomatli was interviewed on January 2, 2013, music segment of NPR.
[70]
In February 2013, Ozomatli reimagined the ESPN NBA theme song where fans were asked to vote for their favorite version from different artists.
[71]
Raúl Pacheco: , tres, jarana, vocals
Guitar
: Percussion, rap vocals, lead vocals, backing vocals
Justin 'El Niño' Porée
Ozomatli Presents Ozokidz (2012) Hornblow Records
Place in the Sun (2014)
[72]
(2017)
Non-Stop: Mexico to Jamaica
"", a Sublime cover on the Sublime tribute album, Look at All the Love We Found
April 29, 1992 (Miami)
"Ebin", another Sublime cover from another tribute album,
Forever Free
"Whipped Cream ( Remix)" and "Love Potion #9 (Anthony Marinelli Remix)" with Herb Alpert on Whipped Cream & Other Delights - Rewhipped
Anthony Marinelli
"Let The Horn Blow", "Plato", and "En Este Varrio" with on their New and Improved album
Delinquent Habits
"Nubes" a cover from Nos Vamos Juntos, a tribute to Jaguares and Caifanes.
Caifanes
"La Luz del Ritmo", a cover from Carnaval Toda la Vida, a tribute album.
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
They performed a version of the theme song to , "Little Boxes"
Weeds
Some of the members of Ozomatli including Wil-Dog Abers, Justin Poree, Ulises Bella, Raul Pacheco performed on the song "Morena" by . This song was also produced by Wil-Dog Abers and also features Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas.
David Rolas
"Monster" for ‘Download for Good’ campaign through PledgeMusic.
The David Lynch Foundation (DLF)
Wrote and composed the music to the soundtrack.
Happy Feet Two Videogame
"Jardinero" composed for the film .
A Better Life
Ozo currently serves as the house band to , where they wrote and premiered the music video for the song "Hey! It's Fluffy!" featuring Iglesias.
Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand Up Revolution
"La Rama Del Mezquite," featuring Cherine Anderson.