Since their inception in Los Angeles fifteen years ago, Ozomatli’s mission has long been to globally spread a message of peace and understanding through diversity in music. Representing the United States as Cultural Ambassadors, Ozomatli will once again be extending their devotion to polyglot urban sound clashing... all the way to China and Mongolia, a trip that began May 21st and runs through June 4th, 2010. Much like their previous State Department trips, Ozomatli will be taking part in free public concerts, musical workshops, and community outreach throughout East Asia.
Ozomatli will also be traveling to the earthquake zone in Dujiangyan, China – an area still ravaged by the devastating 7.9 temblor of May 12, 2008 - killing at least 68,000 people and injuring countless more.
Ozo’s outreach in this area, including Pengzhou, Sichuan Province, will focus on extending the value of music education to children in orphanages, schools for migrant workers families, and schools for the handicapped.
Over 10,000 people are expected to attend Ozomatli’s performance in Mongolia - the first outdoor concert allowed by a western band in Sukhbaatar Square, the central square of communist Ulaanbaatar.
Ozomatli are performing at the USA Pavilion in Shanghai as guests of the Shanghai World Expo 2010, as well as the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts. The band will also be performing in Wuhan, the Cultural Center in Chengdu, the Sichuan Conservatory’s Pop Music School in Xindu, concerts and outreach programs in Beijing, and a special performance for children with disabilities in Mongolia.
Ozomatli are an LA based, multiethnic, multiracial group who are a living example that music can transcend any cultural or social boundary. Ozomatli has long been devoted to outreach and community involvement, and the performances and community outreach in China and Mongolia are a further extension of that commitment.
2009 proved to be a busy year for Ozomatli, serving as US cultural ambassadors with a US sponsored State Department trip that took Ozomatli to Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand. The band was also honored to play for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 32nd Annual Award Gala, held in Washington DC in September.
2010 looks to continue Ozomatli’s feverish pace. In addition to taking their incendiary live show on the road in support of their new album; March featured two shows at the SXSW Festival in Austin, and May has already featured a wildly successful collaboration with the Boston Pops Orchestra for the 125th Pops Anniversary Celebration.
Ozomatli’s new album, Fire Away, was released by Mercer Street Records / Downtown Records on April 20th, 2010.
Not since 1990...