Ozomatli, formed in 1995 and hailing from Los Angeles, California, are a Latin rock band known for their fusion of hip-hop, salsa, funk, punk, reggae, and jazz. The group consists of several members with diverse musical backgrounds: Wil-Dog Abers on bass, marimbula, and backing vocals; Raúl Pacheco on guitar and vocals; Justin 'El Niño' Porée on percussion and rap vocals; Asdrubal Sierra on trumpet and lead vocals; Ulises Bella on saxophone; and Jiro Yamaguchi on drums. The band began with their self-titled debut album Ozomatli in 1998, released by Almo Sounds. Their second album, Embrace the Chaos, was released in 2001 by Interscope Records and featured a notable single "Cut Chemist Suite" which garnered critical acclaim. Ozomatli’s third studio effort, Street Signs, appeared in 2004 on Concord Records and Real World Records, followed by Don't Mess with the Dragon in 2007 on Concord Records. The band's 2010 release, Fire Away, came out via Downtown Records and Mercer Street. Their 2014 album Place in the Sun was released by Downtown Records and their live album Live at the Fillmore in 2005. Notable collaborations include working with Carlos Santana on "One of These Days" from the album Shaman, as well as covers such as a version of "April 29, 1992 (Miami)" for the Sublime tribute compilation. The band have consistently blended various musical styles and maintained a high level of activity in live performances and community engagement. They put out several new albums in the 2010s and 2020s including Marching On in 2022.
