Non-Stop: Mexico To Jamaica (Cleopatra)

Ozomatli

Released May 5, 2017

DownBeat Five-Star Review

YouTube: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mSawVtNObkQE54wPNOy_0RhKbqS7jIA24

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2uvbuOxYzDgGI5oz6jvYE3?si=TGvNLt4AQO2iGDywYj3sDQ

About:

The band Ozomatli met while attempting to create a worker’s union in Los Angeles, the union failed to attract recognition however gave them an abandoned building to use for a month. The building was transformed into a cultural arts centre through which Ozomatli came into fruition. The name Ozomatli is derived after the Nahuatl word for the Aztec astrological symbol…

Ozomatli’s latest recording is an album of classic and contemporary Mexican hits reimagined with a Jamaican feel. Titled Nonstop: Mexico → Jamaica, it pays homage to the music that many of the band members grew up listening to, inspiring them to reconnect and reinterpret songs that defined their youth.

Produced by drum & bass reggae legends, Sly & Robbie (Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Madonna, No Doubt) and featuring various high-profile guest vocalists, the album reflects the bands multi-genre influences as well as their travels around the world.

Originally conceived as a tribute to Mariachi and Norteño music, the band decided to expand the concept and include iconic and current artists and cover more eras. Pairing reggae, ska, rocksteady and dancehall rythm’s with a variety of Mexican musical genres spoke to the band’s desire to do something unique for its 20th anniversary. It was also critical to include songs written by artist that represent the vast diversity of Mexico’s population.

With “NONSTOP: MEXICO → JAMAICA” Ozomatli continues creating music for entire families and communities. By recreating these classic Latin songs, Ozo redefines their meaning and reimagines their beauty for generations to come. As Ozomatli percussionist and MC, Justin Poree, puts it, “Anyone who is eight or 80 will recognize “Sabor a Mi” or “Besame Mucho.” The band has been sprinkling some of these songs into their recent live shows, and the crowds have not been able to hold back from coming together to sing along with “Como La Flor” or “Tragos Amargos.” These rhythmically and melodically rich songs bridge the generational gap, captivate all who listen, and beautifully mesh a variety of rich cultures.

We couldn’t be more excited to share this new music with you and, as always, we depend on the dedication of our beloved fans to keep making music and sharing incredible live experiences with you.
From the bottom of our hearts, we’d like to thank you for all of the love and support over the years. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Ozomatli (Raul, Asdru, Wil-Dog, Uli, Jiro, Justin)

Track Listing:

1. Eres (Enrique Arroyo / Jose Arroyo / Emmanuel Díaz / Isaac Ortega) 4:00

2. Como la Flor (Pedro Astudillo / Abraham Quintanilla) 3:40

3. Oye Mi Amor (Alejandro Gonzalez / Jose Olvera-Sierra / Alejandro Gonzalez Trujillo) 3:48

4. Bésame Mucho (Consuelo Velázquez) 2:52

5. Noa Noa (Alberto Aguilera Valadez) 3:09

6. La Bamba 3:20

7. Solamente Una Vez (Agustín Lara) 2:28

8. Andar Conmigo (Roberto Sorokin / Julietta Venegas) 3:42

9. De Paisano a Paisano (Enrique Valencia) 3:22

10. Evil Ways (Clarence Henry) 3:27

11. Tragos Amargos (José Concepción Villa Cuellar / Freddie Martínez / Jesse Salcedo) 3:13

12. Volver Volver (Fernando Maldonado Rivera) 3:18

13. Land of 1000 Dances (Chris Kenner) 3:20

14. Come and Get Your Love (Lolly Vegas) 3:05

Personnel:

Flight Crew

Raúl Pacheco: guitar, vocals, background vocals

Asdru Sierra: keyboards, trumpet, vocals, background vocals

Wil-Dog Abers: bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, vocals

Uli Bella: keyboards, melodica, saxophone

Jiro Yamaguchi: drums, background vocals

Justin Porée: bass, drums

Additional Passengers

Sly Dunbar: drums

Robbie Shakespeare: bass

Juanes: guitar (5)

Herb Alpert: trumpet (4)

Kyle McDonald (of Slightly Stoopid): vocals (6)

Chali 2na Rap and G. Love: vocals (13)

Roger Rivas: keyboards, organ, piano

Edgar Rodriguez: vocals

Mariachi Divas: horn, strings, background vocals (12)

Régulo Caro: vocals (8)

Gaby Moreno: vocals (7)

Paul Pacheco: guitar

Sabrina Luna: cello (1)

Emile Poree: guitar (7)

David Ralicke: flute, trombone

Noybel Reyes: background vocals (6)

Recorded at Yellow Room Music

Executive-Producer: Justin Porée

Mixing: Jason Goldstein

Mastering: Reuben Cohen

Rhythm Production: Sly & Robbie

Artwork: Michael Page

Cover Photo: Jessica Fusello

Review:

Reggae was the first music from Jamaica to gain international success, thanks in large part to Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff’s The Harder They Fall soundtrack and the studio experiments of producer Lee “Scratch” Perry. Reggae caught on in Britain in the late ’60s. The Mod subculture adopted the proto-reggae styles of ska and rocksteady, setting the stage for worldwide embrace of the music’s off-beat guitar accents, melodic bass lines and syncopated drumming. Ozomatli honors the cultural diversity of their Los Angeles home with an infectious combination of reggae, hip-hop, salsa, funk, ska, Afro-Cuban jazz and rock. The band captures the essence of roots music with tracks full of dub effects and solid, pounding rhythms. Selena’s “Como La Flor” gets an uplifting ska treatment; “Andar Conmigo” blends banda with a gentle reggae swing that accentuates the similarities between the two rhythms.

J. Poet (DownBeat)