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Group Members: Tony Lujan, Chali 2Na, Cut Chemist
Brewing a vital concoction of Latin salsa, urban hip-hop, and jazz-funk, Ozomatli formed in Los Angeles in the mid-'90s, eventually settling on a lineup that included Raúl "El Bully" Pacheco, Ulises Bella, Jiro Yamaguchi, Cut Chemist, Chali 2na, Wil-Dog Abers, Mairo Calire, Rene "Spinobi" Dominguez, Justin "Niño" Porée, Asdrubal Sierra, and Jabu. After making their name on the local club circuit, the group made an appearance on the urban late-night talk show Vibe! and released its self-titled debut in June 1998. Embrace the Chaos was released in 2001, followed by an EP, Coming Up, in 2003. A third full-length, Street Signs, which featured a changed lineup (both Cut Chemist and Chali 2na, for example, left the group on good terms), came out in 2004 and subsequently won a Grammy. A concert CD, Live at the Fillmore, with an accompanying DVD of the show, was released in 2005, unofficially honoring the group's tenth anniversary, and in 2006 Don't Mess with the Dragon was released, followed by Live from Soho in 2008. The band returned to the studio with producer Tony Berg to issue Fire Away, its debut album for Mercer Street Records/Downtown Records, in 2010.
from Wikipedia:
Ozomatli is a seven to ten piece band playing primarily Latin, hip hop, and rock music, 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, rap, and others.
In a 2007 NPR interview, band members Jiro Yamaguchi and Ulises Bella describe Ozomatli:
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.
The band has experienced many member changes, having had as many as ten members, and as few as seven. A core of six members has featured in all of its lineups: Asdru Sierra (lead vocals, trumpet), Raul Pacheco (lead vocals, guitar, tres, jarana), Justin Poree (rap vocals, percussion), Wil-dog Abers (bass, backing vocals), Jiro Yamaguchi (tabla, percussion, backing vocals) and Ulises Bella (sax, clarinet, requinto jarocho, keyboards, backing vocals).
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, and added MC Chali 2na, turntablist Cut Chemist, drummer William Marrufo, and sax player Jose Espinosa (d. January 5, 2011).
Their first effort was the Ya Llego EP, a self-released 4-track CD. All 4 songs would reappear on their self-titled album. Following an appearance in Vibe magazine, the group broke into the mainstream, releasing Ozomatli, their eponymous debut album, in June 1998 under the Almo Sounds label.
Between their first and second albums, the band experienced a number of member changes, with four of the ten members leaving the band. First the band added drummer Andy Mendoza replacing William Marrufo. Then DJ Cut Chemist left shortly after the release of the first album and was replaced by Kid.W.I.K. Later on Chali 2na left to concentrate on hip-hop outfit Jurassic 5 (which also included Cut Chemist). Chali 2na hand-picked his own replacement as Kanetic Source. While making the second album, Kanetic Source, Kid.W.I.K. and Jose Espinosa all left. Kanetic Source currently does underground music. He also does work with Chali 2na.
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, all the while continuing their commitment to social justice and progressive politics, in addition to the rising anti-war movement. Kanetic Source appeared as a guest in some songs on the album, and continued to tour with the band as a guest. Chali 2na also appears, along with Kanetic Source, in the song "Vocal Artillery" but goes uncredited.
The band released "Coming Up," a limited edition EP with drummer Mario Calire replacing Andy Mendoza, and the additions of trombone player Sheffer Bruton and turntablist DJ Spinobi (who had appeared on some tracks on "Embrace The Chaos"). Kanetic Source is listed as an official member on this release although there are very few rap vocal parts.
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. There were more member changes as well, with rapper MC Jabu replacing Kanetic Source. This lineup of the original six plus Calire, Bruton, Spinobi, and Jabu would be Ozomatli's longest lasting lineup and would record three albums together (Street Signs, Live at the Fillmore, and Don't Mess With the Dragon).
The musical styles of many cultures are blended on 2004's Street Signs, and also features another guest appearance by former MC Chali 2na, this time credited, in the song "Whos To Blame". In 2005, Street Signs won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album.
In late 2006, shortly before the release of Don't Mess With the Dragon, DJ Spinobi left the band to pursue personal projects (but stuck around until the album's release, as he appears in the photos and is credited as a member). This was the end of the longest lasting Ozomatli lineup, and the first of many lineup changes that would occur over the next year and a half. April 3, 2007, saw the release of their fourth studio album Don't Mess With The Dragon, which was co-produced by K. C. Porter. On September 20, 2007, Ozomatli announced that MC Jabu was leaving the group on amicable terms. He was replaced with Tre Hardson.
In early 2008, the group did a song for the Los Angeles Dodgers called "Can't Stop The Blue," their first recording with Tre Hardson. In the video, LA drummer Chris Cano is seen in place of Calire. Shortly thereafter, Sheffer Bruton and Tre Hardson were no longer seen playing with the group, and Mario Calire appeared to be back on the drumseat. On July 18, 2008, Ozomatli did a show with original MC Chali 2na, and announced that he had re-joined the group. In August, they traveled to Africa, without Chali 2na. That year the band also became official cultural ambassadors at the invitation of the United States State Department, the culmination of a yearlong process initiated at the behest of a Nepalese diplomatic worker who heard the band discuss its mission and philosophy on National Public Radio (NPR); the group's first year of ambassadorship took them to Nepal, India, Myanmar, Madagascar, Jordan, Tunisia, South Africa, and Egypt. In Madagascar, Raul Pacheco was nearly electrocuted on stage, an event that inspired their song "Malagasy Shock."
On April 20, 2010, the band released their fifth studio album, Fire Away.
In 2010, Ozomatli performed the original song "Never Again" with the Agahoza Shalom Youth Village for the Enough Project and Downtown Records' Raise Hope for Congo compilation. Proceeds from the compilation fund efforts to make the protection and empowerment of Congo’s women a priority, as well as inspire individuals around the world to raise their voice for peace in Congo.
