Mountain Festival scaled back, but still

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

By Planet User

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Self-described as a Black-Chicano-Cuban-Japanese-Jewish-Filipino crew, Ozomatli bring a slice of multiculturalism and world beats to Teton Village this Saturday.

Featuring emcee Chali 2na, the eight-piece Los Angeles band was selected by Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to headline the Fourth Annual JH Mountain Festival, which takes place Friday through Sunday around the valley.

Jay Nash Band, headed by one-time local Jay Nash, will open the show.
Ozomatli’s blend of hip-hop, Latin funk and salsa, combined with a high-energy stage show brings a similar vibe to last year’s fest which featured Michael Franti and Spearhead.

“We’ve been talking about getting Ozomatli since the fest started,” said Andy Calder, whose World Famous Productions is co-producing the festival with Front St. Productions.

“This year’s show is not scaled back in terms of what was spent on the headliner,” Calder added. “The association and resort are committed to maintaining the quality of the show.”

Grammy award-winning Ozomatli came together more than 13 years ago for a labor protest at the Peace and Justice Center in downtown L.A. Their collision of genres that also embraces merengue, comparsa, New Orleans second line, Jamaican raga and Indian raga, has since taken them around the world—rhythmically and literally. After embarking on international tours to Japan, North Africa, and Australia, they were invited by the U.S. State Department in 2007 to be official Cultural Ambassadors on a series of government-sponsored international tours.

“We played in Nepal and no American band had every played there,” said Ulises Bella, saxophonist and clarinetist. “It’s a challenge for us to be in a position where no one knows who the f*ck you are, but we’re up for it.”

Ozomatli take their name from the Nahuatl word for the Aztec astrological symbol of the monkey, which is also a god of dance, fire, the new harvest, and music. The lineup has morphed over the years, mostly with different emcees, DJs, and drummers. After being on the band’s first album, Chali 2na left the band with Cut Chemist to start Jurassic 5, and rejoined the band last summer. The band will be unveiling new songs with Chali, as well as revisiting some old school jams that have not appeared the setlist for some time.

A strong thread in Ozo’s music is its political activism, including a vigilant anti-war stance and rights for blue-collar workers. And while band members are happy with Obama in the White House, they feel the country still has much ground to conquer.
“I’m concerned with what happens post-election…what’s pushed out to help working people,” Bella said. “There’s a lot of corruption still.  If I don’t pay my taxes, the IRS will come find me and get my money. AIG is straight stealing from us and I don’t see anyone getting arrested.”

 Having recently signed to NYC-based label Mercer Street Records, Ozo is heading back into the studio to record their fifth studio effort. Spring will once again have the band serving as US Cultural Ambassadors with a the U.S. State Department, this time with a trip slated for Rangoon, Myanmar, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and Vladivostok, Russia.

“There’s a lot of Western culture that has spread to these areas, but there’s always this local shit…just being able to trip out on the vibe and what the locals are experiencing,” Bella said.

Opener Jay Nash Band is also well established in L.A. where he has released five albums, the latest being “The Things You Think You Need” (Bonded/2008). The acoustic folk-rocker has been likened to John Mayer and Dave Matthews. PJH
Ozomatli will perform a free concert at 5 p.m. on Saturday in the parking lot at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Other Mountain Festival events include the World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb at Snow King Resort in Jackson, and the 4th Annual Marmot Locals Appreciation Race and Party with eight-piece local reggae group Chanman Roots Band at 3 p.m. on Friday at Nick Wilson’s Café in Teton Village.

Courtesy photo
Ozomatli headlines Mountain Fest.


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Mountain Festival scaled back, but still | Planet JH News Article: Music Box

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