User:Sbryant415/Francisco Mora Catlett

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'Francisco Mora Catlett'

Francisco Ali Mora Catlett (born August 31,1947) is an African American-Mexican drummer, composer, and percussionist who has been influential in modern American Jazz. A noted jazz innovator, Mora Catlett has sought to compose music which melded Afro-Cuban ritual music with avant-garde jazz, Mora Catlett worked with such famous musicians such as Sun-Ra, Max Roach, Carl Craig, and Marcus Belgrave. As a leader, Mora Catlett has been a mentor to such young musicians as JD Allen, Craig Taborn, and Rodney Whitaker.

BIOGRAPHY

Francisco Mora-Catlett was born in 1946 in Washington, D.C. to noted Mexican painter Francisco Mora and African-American sculptress Elizabeth Catlett. Mora-Catlett grew up in Mexico City, where he began a musical career as a session drummer for Capitol Records. He studied performance and composition at Berklee School of Music. Mora-Catlett later joined the legendary Sun-Ra Arkestra, with whom he toured from 1973-1980. Mora-Catlett later settled in Detroit, where he became a well-known bandleader and producer.

In 1987, Mora-Catlett produced the seminal recording "MORA!," in which he performed what he terms "Music of the Afro-Americas," the music of the African Peoples who were brought to the Western Hemisphere, and were settled in the US, Cuba, Brazil, as well as the other Latin American countries. In addition, Mora-Catlett lead the first working Latin Jazz ensemble IN Detroit, ''Amigo.

Mora-Catlett went on to study with the famous drummer Max Roach, who went on to become a mentor as well as teacher. Mora-Catlett's apprenticeship with the legendary drummer led to him touring and recording with Roach's famed percussion ensemble M'Boom, He appeared on the 1990 recording "To The Max," and 1992's "Live At S.O.B's."

Upon returning to Detroit,Mora Catlett became a Professor in Jazz Studies at Michigan State University. He also collaborated with the famed techno-music producer Carl Craig, appearing on Craig's groundbreaking techno/jazz-fusion work InnerZone Orchestra. In 1999, Mora released his second recording. the acclaimed "World Trade Music," a trio date with two renowned young players, pianist Craig Taborn and bassist Rodney Whitaker. In 2002, Mora Catlett appeared on the seminal recording The Detroit Experiment,'' which featured fellow Detroiters Carl Craig, Geri Allen, Marcus Belgrave, and Regina Carter.

During the last decade, Mora Catlett moved to New York, and continued his forays into exploring new sounds with the 2006 ground-breaking recording "OuterZone," with Sun-Ra veteran Marshall Allen, Carl Craig, and Craig Taborn. In 2010 Mora Catlett made an auspicious follow-up with "Andromeda 2010," which featured trumpet player Graham Haynes, tenorman JD Allen, and pianist Craig Taborn.

AFRO-HORN MX

In 2012, Mora Catlett recorded what will be considered his''magnum opus. "Afro-Horn MX," ''an adventurous mix of avant-garde jazz with Afro-Cuban rhythms. Mora Catlett drew inspiration for his recording from a short story "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?" by Henry Dumas, which told of three horns which were created in Africa, but came to the Americas with the slave trade. Bruce Lee Gallanter of Downtown Music Gallery wrote, "Like the Art Ensemble of Chicago Francisco Mora Catlett's Septet blends the ancient and modern as well as the African and Latin streams into a most delectable blend". One of this year's best!"

PERSONAL LIFE

When Mora Catlett moved to Detroit, He married vocalist Teresa Mora, with whom he had three daughters. Musician Ife Mora, and his twins, photographer Nia Mora, and "America's Top Model" Naima Mora. Soon After to New York, Mora Catlett married his second wife, dancer/choreographer Danys Perez, with whom he had a daughter, Mahalia. Along with Perez, Mora Catlett founded the Afro-Cuban dance troupe, Oyu Oro.

DISCOGRAPHY

AS A LEADER

1987: MORA!(AACE) 1999: World Trade Music (AACE) 2006: OuterZone! (AACE) 2010; Andromeda 2010 (AACE) 2012: AFRO-HORN MX (AACE)

With Max Roach & M'Boom

1990: To The MAX! 1992: Live At S.O. B.'s

With Carl Craig

1999: the InnerZone Orchestra

2002: The Detroit Experiment (RopeaDope)