Ozomatli formed in Los Angeles in 1995, when there was an effort to form a union. Although the effort failed, the group had the use of an abandoned building for a month, which was later converted into a cultural arts center, where the new band flourished. The name of the band is derived from the Nahuatl term for the Aztec astrological sign of the monkey, who is the god of music, fire, and dance.
The band released their first album, “Ozomatli,” in 1998, and watched it reach the mainstream. It climbed to No. 7 on the Billboard Latin Albums chart, and remained here for 71 weeks. This success led guitarist Carlos Santana to invite the band to tour with him in 1999.
They released “Embrace the Chaos,” their second album, in 2001. It soared to No. 1 on two Latin charts, and won a Grammy as Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album. They won two Grammys in 2004 for “Street Signs,” and subsequently performed with orchestras throughout the United States. Their latest album is 2020’s “Marching On.” A review says:
“. . . from the very first count in, they have every single person dancing . . .”
Ozomatli will be at the Music Box on January 20. An artist this colorful could inspire colorful advertisements, which the venue can create using poster printing.
Get a Free Quote for Signs