Posted on Friday, October 27, 2006 7:01 AM
Ever wondered what happens when you put together a bunch of extremely talented musicians of Latin, African American, Asian and Middle Eastern descent ?
Odds are that you'll end up with
Ozomatli, a band from Los Angeles. Two weeks ago, they performed at the
Aloha Tower Marketplace and blew my mind. They combine rock guitars and rap, Middle Eastern melodies and hip hop, Latin vocals and a strong brass section to produce a unique and irresistibly danceable sound.
Forget that, why should I try to put to words what has been done better on their own site (where, incidentally, you can listen to their music):
Saturday Night” is a “dip-dive-socialize” hip-hop block party. “Love & Hope” is an anthem waiting to happen with its English-language mix of Arabic strings and new-school Chicano funk-rock. “Dejame En Paz” is a papi chulo merengue fest that boils over into the mosh pit. The band even re-mixes itself (with the help of Ghenea and John Hanes) on “Ya Viene El Sol,” turning its soaring concert sing-a-long into a piece of DJ heaven; a broken-beat electro cut-up of dancehall, batucada, and jarocho.
You might expect a cacophony, but the styles mix wonderfully, and they produce a sound that is uniquely their own.
I am sure their studio albums are great, but to appreciate their full genius, if you have the opportunity to see them live, do it. I mean it, this band has an exceptional stage presence. I have not seen a band enjoy themselves so much for a long time, and at some point in the show, these Grammy award winning artists will step down from the stage and join in the dancing fun, all the while playing their instruments.