  ozomatli is a seven piece band playing primarily latin, hip hop, and rock music, formed in 1995 in los angeles. they are known both for their vocal activist viewpoints and their wide array of musical styles - including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, rap, and others.http://www.santafenewmexican.com ==history== 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.http://www.santafenewmexican.com this was taken from a july 2, 2006 article in the santa fe new mexican in 1995, all the members met while attempting to form a workers union within los angeles. while they weren't able to win recognition, they were given an abandoned building for one month. the building turned into a cultural arts center and within it, ozomatli was born. in a 2007 npr interview, band members jiro yamaguchi and ulises bella describe ozomatli:  the band's first album, "ozomatli", was released on june 16, 1998 on almo sounds. the album reached mainstream 
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