National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

L.A. Latin rockers Ozomatli recently announced dates for an upcoming Spring 09 tour. According to a recent press statement for Ozomatli's new label, Mercer St. reocrds, all shows will feature the return of rapper Chali 2na, "a key member of Ozo's eponymous debut release and legendary early live performances." Ozomatli will be unveiling new songs with Chali, as well as revisiting some old school jams that have not appeared in Ozo's set-list for some time.

The band has also just confirmed they will once again be serving as US Cultural Ambassadors, in May of this year, with a US State Department trip slated for Ozomatli performances in Rangoon, Myanmar, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and Vladivostok, Russia. Ozomatli has previously served this role in a series of government-sponsored international tours to Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East - tours that linked Ozomatli to a tradition of cultural diplomacy that includes the esteemed likes of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Louis Armstrong. Further details on Ozomatli's May trip to Myanmar, Vientam and Russia are forthcoming.

According to label sources, Ozomatli are currently recording new music in Jack Johnson's studio in Los Angeles, the Solar Power Plastic Plant, with Robert Carranza (Mars Volta, Zach De La Rocha) behind the mixing board. Some of the titles Ozo has recorded so far include, "Malagasy Shock", "Ashes", "It's Only Time", and "La Guagua".

Ozomatli singer and guitarist Raul Pacheco says, "our new music is filled with what could best be described as a sense of 'happy urgency'. There's just seems to be a thread of calmness and maturity running through these songs that says, "do what you want in your life right now, there is no need to wait any longer".

Originally formed to play a Los Angeles area labor protest, Ozomatli spent their early days participating in everything from earthquake prep "hip hop ghetto plays" at inner-city L.A. elementary schools to community activist events, protests, and city fundraisers.

Since then, Ozo have been synonymous with their city: their music has been embraced by the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and Los Angeles Clippers basketball franchise, they recorded the street-view travelogue "City of Angels" in 2007 as a new urban anthem, and most recently, Ozomatli were featured as part of NBC's prominent L.A. figures imaging campaign "We Are 4 L.A."

Ozomatli Spring '09 Tour Dates

3/06/09 - St. Petersburg, Florida @ Jannus Landing
3/07/09 - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida @ Culture Room
3/08/09 - Orlando @ Florida Club Firestone w/ Bad Brains
3/10/09 - Atlanta @ Georgia The Masquerade
3/11/09 - Asheville, North Carolina @ The Orange Peel
3/12/09 - Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
3/13/09 - Baltimore, Maryland @ Sonar
3/14/09 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania @ World Cafe Live
3/15/09 - Troy, NY @ Revolution Hall
3/18/09 - Boston, Massachusetts @ House of Blues
3/19/09 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
3/20/09 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
3/21/09 - So. Burlington @ Vermont Higher Ground
3/27/09 - Chicago, Illinois @ House of Blues
3/28/09 - Teton Village, Wyoming Jackson @ Hole Mountain Resort
4/09/09 - Tempe, Arizona @ Marquee Theatre
4/10/09 - Tucson, Arizona @ Rialto Theatre
4/11/09 - Albuquerque, New Mexico @ Route 66 Casino
4/12/09 - Steamboat Springs @ Colorado Steamboat Music Tent
4/16/09 - Anchorage @ Alaska Bear Tooth Theatre
4/17/09 - Vancouver, BC @ Canada Commodore Ballroom
4/18/09 – The Nightlight Bellingham, WA
4/19/09 – World Ski and Snowboard Fest Whistler, BC

5/5 thru 5/20 - Rangoon, Myanmar / Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam / Vladivostok, Russia… details forthcoming

5/22/09 - Las Vegas, Nevada Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
6/05/09 - Telluride, CO Telluride Jazz Celebration @ "Bill Frisell" Town Park
7/21/09 - Central Point, Oregon @ Jackson County Fair