Mexico to Jamaica to Wolf Den
The incredibly infectious Los Angeles band Ozomatli has been around since 1995 — so why am I only just hearing about them?
Well, because the music biz operates for the most part through a DIY, streaming/ download template, which means there will always be new artists to discover and no one can possibly keep up. Fortunately, my pal and Day colleague Carlos Virgen is from L.A. and told me about Ozomatli, and I am in his debt.
As a sort of sonic petri dish, Ozomatli have absorbed all manners of Latin music as well as hip hop, rock and reggae, created their own distinct sound — and onstage deliver a manic, mesmerizing show. The band, on the road behind their brand new “Nonstop: Mexico to Jamaica” album, visit the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den for a free show on Friday. Produced by drum/ bass magicians Sly & Robbie, “Nonstop” is a pretty delicious collection of Latin classics and obscurities reimagined through the offbeats of ska. Come December, this is gonna end up on a lot of year-end best-of lists 2017. Ozomatli, 8 p.m. Friday, Mohegan Sun Wolf Den; free; 1-800-745-3000.