Grupo Fantasma was born out of a collision of two groups--the jazz/funk outfit Blue Noise Band from Austin and a Laredo four-piece called Blimp that played funk-infused Latin. After making the decision to join forces fulltime, the group eventually added a robust horn section to beef up its tropical party tunes. Soon, the group began building a strong following with its endless touring and dance-friendly live performances. It wasn't long before people outside of the band's Austin home base started to take notice as well. Now a thumping 12-man group, their sound has been described as a cross between the Afro-Cuban fusions of Ozomatli and Quetzal and the good-times blues-rock of Los Lobos.