“You’ll find grooves for miles in this slow burner, complete with all the hallmarks of a classic Ozomatli joint: lively rhythm, playful yet poignant lyrics, and searing solos that extend beyond mere guitars.”- KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic”
Three-time Grammy Award winning Los Angeles-based band, OZOMATLI, announce exciting spring and summer tour dates including a weekly residency at Venice West in Venice, CA every Thursday throughout April. The funk, salsa, jazz, reggae and hip-hop influenced band recently celebrated their 25th Anniversary by releasing their ninth studio album, Marching On, to much fan and critical praise. As the Los Angeles Daily News observed, “The new music is filled with songs that touch on the musical genres that define the city (Los Angeles)…”
The 11 songs on Marching On are a unified blend of the members’ influences and ideas. Or, as founding members Jiro Yamaguchi and Uli explain: “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, Hip Hop, funk or whatever, it’s that crazy blend that’s going on between that cacophony of sound is Ozomatli, y’know?”
Tracks from Marching On include the soulful grooves of “Mi Destino,” which features guests B-Real(Cypress Hill/Prophets of Rage) and vocalist, Gaby Moreno, and the maraca shaking single, “Sacude” which were both featured on KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic”. In addition to the freestyle dance party tune, “Fellas” which features Lisa Lisa of Cult Jam fame and the ladies of J.J. Fad became a sought out duet on tik tok and the reggae-tinged single “Sunsets,” which is about traveling through L.A. from the east side to the beach.
Produced by David Garza (Fiona Apple), Marching On features the six Ozo core members: Asdru Sierra(lead vocals, trumpet, keyboards), Raul Pacheco (lead vocals, guitar), Willy (Wil-Dog) Abers (bass, vocals), Justin Poree (rap, vocals, percussion), Ulises Bella (saxophone, melodica, clarinet, guitar, requinto, keyboards, vocals) and Jiro Yamaguchi (drums, percussion) as well as the previously mentioned special guests.
Ozomatli on Tour
3/30/23 – Waco, TX – The Pavilion at Carleen Bright Arboretum
4/06/23 – Venice, CA – The Venice West
4/13/23 – Venice, CA – The Venice West
4/15/23 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s
4/20/23 – Venice, CA – The Venice West
4/22/23 – Winter Park, CO – Spring Bash + Splash
4/25/23 – Phoenix, AZ – Musical Instrument Museum
4/26/23 – Phoenix, AZ – Musical Instrument Museum
4/27/23 – Venice, CA – The Venice West
5/04/23 – Destin, FL – Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation 28th Annual Concerts in the Village Series
5/27/23 – Monterey, CA – California Roots Festival (with Chali 2na & Cut Chemist)
5/28/23 – Bakersfield, CA – Lightning in a Bottle Festival (with Chali 2na & Cut Chemist)
6/24/23 – Piercy, CA – Summer Arts & Music Festival
10/06/23 – Umatilla, OR – Rock the Locks Festival
About Ozomatli:
Ozomatli’s music is as multifaceted as its members and influences. Meeting as young political activists and musicians, the original band formed in Los Angeles in 1995 to play a notorious urban-Latino-and-beyond collision of hip hop and salsa, dancehall and cumbia, samba and funk, merengue and comparsa, East LA R&B and New Orleans second line, Jamaican ragga and Indian raga— all while following a key mantra: it will take you around the world by taking you around Los Angeles.
Their music has been recognized and celebrated widely – having won two Grammy Awards, a Latin Grammy, serving as official US Cultural Ambassadors playing to audiences around the world, and here in the City of LA, April 23rd is designated Ozomatli Day in recognition of their immense contribution to the cultural life of the city.
Over the course of Ozomatli’s 25-year career, the group has sold hundreds of thousands of albums, won two Grammy’s, consistently sold out concerts around the world, and performed on high profile TV shows like The Today Show, Jimmy Kimmel, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Austin City Limits. The band also stars in Drew Barrymore’s Never Been Kissed and has been featured on PBS Kids.
Connect with Ozomatli
Twitter: @ozomatli
IG: @ozomatli
By: Bass Magazine