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LIKE THE MOST ELEGANT HAND-TOOLED WALNUT DASHBOARD ON THE FLIGHT-DECK OF A SPACE SHUTTLE, IS THE SOUND OF FRANCISCO MORA CATLETT... Straight No Chaser, London, UK 1999 ---
---Real to a variant componential history, Francisco Mora Catlett has merged Cuban rhythm, Techno funk, Mexican surrealism, African mysticism, and the Avant-garde to formulate what is uniquely a "New Voice in Jazz".
Mora Catlett comes from a tradition of masterful musicianship. Born in D.C. and reared in D.F., he began his technical training at UNAM's School of Music, while at the same time exercising work with Abe Laboriel and Fernando Baena (Los Profetas) as a recording artist for Capital Records in Mexico. His musical education was further formulated by such greats as Alan Dawson of the Berkley School of Music, who helped to lay down classical Jazz technique, and Babatunde Olatunji, who helped to surface an inherit African awareness.
There on, Mora Catlett embarked on a journey through space, time, and sound with Master Sun Ra and the Arkestra. He disembarked from the ship of Ra's avant-garde voyage to found his own Pa'Lante Productions, rooted in Detroit and devoted to the spread of what Mora Catlett has made the thematic base of his career: "African Presence in the music of the Americas".
His first release, "MORA", a result of polished interactive work with artists such as Marcus Belgrave and Kenny Cox, marked the breaking of ground for future creations. This musical phoenix next received a National Endowment for the Arts grant to study with sound firebird, Max Roach. He appeared on two Blue Moon CDs with Roach's M'Boom, "To the Max", and "Live at S.O.B.'s New York" and contributes composition to The Uptown String Quartet. Here after, he served as a visiting Associate Professor to Michigan State University while maintaining rigorous research efforts in Cuba, where work would be done with such necessary Afro Cuban Folklore components as Afro Cuba de Matanzas.
Mora Catlett's previously invested endeavors in the Detroit community would now be returned in the form of the city's all original gift of Techno. In collaboration with electro-wiz Carl Craig on single Jazz Mix "Bug in the Bassbin", the innovative genre Jazz Electronica emerged and later resulted with the Innerzone Orchestra's full-length debut "Programmed".
Mora Catlett's departure to Detroit's music scene was the creation of "OUTERZONE" Band, coming full force featured on "A Sun Ra Dedication: The Myth Lives On" on Kindred Spirits Recordings.
Also inclusive in his 'must hears' is "World Trade Music" and “River Drum”, elegant mixtures of a unique experience with the presence of Africa in the Americas.
Now based in New York City, Francisco Mora Catlett leads and works on creative groundbreaking projects that are being taken to the world music scenario. He is music and tech support for “OYU ORO” Afro-Cuban Dance Ensemble lead by Principal Cuban dancer choreographer “La Mora” Danys Perez; together they premiered her celebrated work “PALENQUE” at La MaMa, etc and continue in 2008 with "RAICES Y ESTAMPAS CUBANAS" and "MAFEREFUN".
NEW CD 2007 – 2008 "OUTERZONE"
FEATURING: Marshall Allen / Carl Craig / Craig Taborn ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
NEW CD 2009 "VITAL FORCE"
FEATURING: Kenny Cox / Vincent Bowens / Marion Hayden. Live broadcast from Detroit's WDET; Kim Heron Host........
2009 brand new project: "THE AFRO HORN", inspired by Henry Dumas's story "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?", was conceived by Francisco Mora Catlett in Sun Ra's home during his tenure with the Arkestra in the 70's. In this story the Afro Horn is a powerful instrument that unites and completes the circle, bringing new light and life.
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