Ozomatli Tickets Continued
The members of Ozomatli met through their affiliation with
the Peace and Justice Center of Los Angeles. 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. Following an
appearance in Vibe magazine, the group broke into the mainstream,
releasing Ozomatli, their self titled debut album, in June
1998. Carlos Santana offered the band one of their early breaks as his
headlining act during his 1999 tour to promote Supernatural.
Ozomatli's second album, 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 and progressive
politics, in addition to the rising 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 musical styles of many cultures are blended on
Ozomatli's 2004 album Street Signs, with vocals
mentioning the Yakuza crossing paths with gnawa trance; or Moroccan
sintir virtuoso Hassan Hakmoun, joining the band along with Les Yeux
Noirs and the Prague Symphony. Also accompanying are David Hidalgo of
Los Lobos and Mario Calire of The Wallflowers. The salsa pioneer Eddie Palmieri, who is
on the Concord Jazz label, is a featured performer on Street
Signs. In 2005, Street Signs won the Grammy Award for Best
Latin Rock/Alternative Album.
