FRANCISCO MORA CATLETT AACE RECORDS
NEW YORK, NY
United States
francisc
Francisco Mora Catlett: Afro Horn MX
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/francisco-mora-catlett-afro-horn-mx-by-steve-bryant
By STEVE BRYANT
September 16, 2012
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Francisco Mora Catlett: Afro Horn MX
AACE Records 2012
When Afro-Mexican Drummer Francisco Mora Catlett first came to this country in the1970s, he dreamed of playing drums for the Sun Ra Arkestra. Not only did Mora achieve his dream, he also forged a lifelong relationship with drum legend Max Roach, which resulted in his performing in Roach's seminal drum ensemble, M'Boom. As a composer and bandleader in Detroit, Mora focused on creating Music of "The Afro-Americas," a vision which encompassed fusing the music of Cuba, Brazil with American modern jazz.
For the double-disc Afro Horn MX, Mora draws inspiration from the legend of the Afro Horns, with Henry Dumas (1934-1968) writing, in his short story "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?," that there are only known to be three actual "Afro Horns" on the planet. The horns are forged in a rare metal only found in Africa and South America. No one knows who forged the horns, but some think that it was the Egyptians. There is one in a heavily-guarded European museum and another on the west coast of Mexico, amongst a tribe of Indians. MX also stands for Malcolm X and Mexico.
To advance his vision, Mora put together a crack team of players which includes three of the baddest reedmen to come out of Detroit—JD Allen and Vincent Bowens on tenors, and Alex Harding on baritone. The rhythm section is superb, too, including master Afro-Cuban drummer Roman Diaz, who performed with the legendary group Yoruba and Puntilla Rios, and here handles congas and bata.
The music seems to revolve around a central theme: the journey of the Africans to what is now the Americas and the diverse musics they created. The set begins with an invocation to the Yoruba orishas with Mora and Diaz playing bata drums. "Saints at Congo Square" follows, commemorating the first City of Afro-American culture, New Orleans, and is also an homage to Mora's mother, renowned sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, who created the statue of Louis Armstrong in Congo Square. The music uses "When The Saints Go Marching In" as a recurring theme while the horns create a swirling ethereal mist of sound.
"Barasuayo" features all three horns playing a mournful melody over a base of ritual bata drums, segueing into "Quinto Regimiento," which starts off with Mora evoking Roach, as Allen and Bowens engage in some sax talk that brings to mind John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, and Archie Shepp. Bowens, who possesses that rougher Detroit edge, comes out with guns blazing. Pianist Aruán Ortiz (someone to watch for) has a thundering attack, whose use of arpeggios brings to mind Don Pullen in his younger days.
The highlight of the set is "Los Consejos Del Olumo," a mashup of Yoruba ritual and coffeehouse slam, with Roman Diaz reading the poem on which the song is based, and a turn by Allen. The date ends with "Cultural Warrior," a dedication to the late Detroit pianist Kenny Cox (of Contemporary Jazz Quintet fame), and immediately brings to mind 'Trane and his 1960s quartet
Even though this is an extended outing, there isn't a boring moment on Afro Horn MX. Mora is one of the most versatile percussionists in jazz and Afro-Latin music, as well as an original composer. Allen and Bowens stack up against any tenor man in jazz (including the 2012 Downbeat Rising Tenor Star, Anat Cohen), while Harding is a blaster who displays complete mastery of his instrument. Here's hoping that word of this dynamic ensemble gets out beyond the island (Mahattan) and reaches the hinterlands.
Tracks: CD1: Egun Moyuba; Saints at Congo Square; Barasuayo; Quinto Regimento; Hush Rush; 125th & Lenox. CD2: 125th & Lenox; Los Consejos Del Olumo; Wemilere; Afro Horn MX; Cultural Warrior.
Personnel: JD Allen: tenor sax; Vincent Bowens: tenor sax; Alex Harding: britone sax; Aruan Ortiz: piano; Francisco Mora Catlett: drums, bata; Roman Diaz: congas, bata, voice.
Track Listing
CD1: Egun Moyuba; Saints at Congo Square; Barasuayo; Quinto Regimento; Hush Rush; 125th & Lenox. CD2: 125th & Lenox; Los Consejos Del Olumo; Wemilere; Afro Horn MX; Cultural Warrior.
Personnel
JD Allen: tenor sax; Vincent Bowens: tenor sax; Alex Harding: britone sax; Aruan Ortiz: piano; Francisco Mora Catlett: drums, bata; Roman Diaz: congas, bata, voice.
Album Information
Title: Francisco Mora Catlett: Afro Horn MX | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: AACE Records
So honred and pleased to participate and to be invited to BLACKTRONIKA, @ the UCSan Diego, thanks much Prof. King Britt
MUSIC NEWS
https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/francisco-mora-catlett-carl-craig-planet-e-detroit-sun-ra-miles-davis-herbie-hancock-1235002169/
Francisco Mora Catlett
Having worked with experimental jazz legends including Sun Ra and Miles Davis since the '60s, Mora-Catlett recently released his own jazz electronic album via Carl Craig's Planet E label.
Find it on Bandcamp:
https://planetecommunications.bandcamp.com/album/electric-worlds
Listen to it on You tube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnoS5WuoZDmGnxgcwuZjuDg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUL2XyGVG7I&list=OLAK5uy_lL9naeNxJgvmW1UpJTDkyfvI0fsXYS1gU
Francisco Mora Catlett ELECTRIC WORLDS release
By Tomas Peña - Nov 20, 2021
https://jazzdelapena.com/new-york-report/francisco-mora-catlett-releases-electric-worlds/
The multi-talented Afro-Latin American drummer, composer, bandleader, visionary Francisco Mora Catlett is no stranger to the art of reinvention. He’s ridden the spaceways with Sun Ra’s Arkestra (1973 to 1980), performed with Max Roach’s all-percussion ensemble, M’Boom, collaborated and world travel with Detroit techno producer, Carl Craig, toured with the Freedom Jazz Trio, and commandeered the groundbreaking group, AfroHORN. Recently, amid the pandemic, Francisco took another step in his musical evolution.
Photo by George LeGare, edited by Juan Mora-Catlett
The AfroHorn crew; left to right: Aruan Ortiz, Sam Newsome, Francisco, Rashaan Carter, Alex Harding, Roman Diaz
What the critics have said about Francisco Mora-Catlett & AfroHORN:
"Veteran drummer Francisco Mora-Catlett, whose long, illustrious résumé includes a 1973–80 stint in the Sun Ra Arkestra... made waves during this year's Winter Jazzfest. - Time Out NY
"Led by the drummer and composer Francisco Mora-Catlett, AfroHORN seeks a mystical but earthy vision of rhythm and folklore, inspired not only by Afro-Cuban music but also the Sun Ra Arkestra, in which Mr. Mora-Catlett played in the 1970s." - The New York Times
" one of the most versatile percussionists in jazz and Afro-Latin music, as well as an original composer." - All About Jazz
"Conceived while Mexican-American drummer Francisco Mora-Catlett was living and working with Sun Ra, Afro Horn infuses Cuban rhythms with an avant-garde sensibility more oriented toward transcendence than disassociation. It grooves hard...." - The Village Voice
"....a mesmerizing mix of West African and Afro-Cuban traditions with contemporary jazz, a grounding of vivid percussion supporting melodies that are both anthemic and tuneful." - Jon Garelick Downbeat - 4 Stars ****
"Sun Ra Orchestra alum Francisco Mora-Catlett is a highly talented drummer and composer, and his AfroHORN project is where he explores his creativity, painting a musical canvas that turns listeners into thinkers. Every track brings a surprise, and even after repeated listens sounds still pop up at you unexpectedly....the band, featuring Sam Newsome, Roman Diaz, Aruan Ortiz, Rashaan Carter, and Alex Harding... seize the opportunity to work their magic and stretch out the possibilities of jazz. " - Ernest Barteldes Newcity Music
"...exudes a funkiness that would make George Clinton proud." -John Murph NPR: A Blog Supreme
"Some of the most inventive and wildly original music to be played and heard since the first progressive rumbles of the early ’60s. This release should be considered one of this year’s best releases and Mora-Catlett’s apotheosis as a master musician —Steve Bryant iROCK JAZZ
"a fascinating, pleasing and inspiring listen...with... Sam Newsome, soprano sax, Salim Washington, tenor sax and Alex Harding, baritone sax and bass clarinet leading brightly soaring melodies over pulsating percussion led by Mora-Catlett and Andrew Daniels. Pianist Aruan Ortiz and Rashaan Carter on bass provide vibrant melodies and grooves throughout the recording." - JAZZAVENUES.COM
"the most arresting and long-lasting features of “Rare Metal” are the outstandingly strong melodies that Francisco Mora-Catlett has brought to the session" - Tony Hall JAZZWISE
"Blessed with a spiritual quality reminiscent of the vibrant 60s/70s African American cultural consciousness scenes, and indelibly linked to Afro-Caribbean folkloric elements, percussionist Francisco Mora-Catlett has made two exceptional recordings over the last two years; these have included 2012′s striking Afro Horn MX and Francisco’s 2013 successor AfroHorn Rare Metal releases. Based on this year’s powerful follow-up, clearly Francisco is plumbing a deep well of distinctive thematic music." Willard Jenkins - The Independent Ear / open sky jazz
"The new AfroHORN disc opens minimalistically with mbira and spoken word, and then the music transforms into a dense, beautiful jazz mix. The leader performed with Max Roach and Innerzone Orchestra and led the Detroit-based Latin-jazz band Amigo, but his most notable bio-bit is the seven years he spent as a member of Sun Ra’s Arkestra. He proudly continues that spacey tradition on Rare Metal." - pasatiempo, SantaFe, NM
"Francisco Mora-Catlett is the drummer, composer, musical arranger and leader of a cohesive band of eight musicians. They gather to perform an edgy percussive set that infuses a heavy dose of West African beats with hard bop and cool jazz." - O's Place Jazz Magazine
Afro Horn at Zinc Bar
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=46294#.UtamahzPD09
By TOMAS PENA, Published: January 15, 2014
Francisco Mora-Catlett and Afro Horn
Greenwich Village, NY
January 8, 2014
There was a moment during Afro-Horn's performance at the Zinc Bar where the lines between reality and fiction became a blur. It occurred when Sam Newsome, an imposing figure of a man and a consummate reed player, appeared to be possessed by the spirit of Probe, the protagonist and wielder of the Afro Horn, a rare object of power in Henry Dumas's short-story, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." In the midst of an intense and passionate solo, Newsome's ..." lips swelled over the reed and each note fell into the circle like an acrobat on a tight rope stretched radially across the center of the universe."
For the uninitiated, Afro Horn is a multicultural, multigenerational ensemble created by the Mexican-American drummer, composer and visionary Francisco Mora-Catlett, who was introduced to the writings of Henry Dumas and the legend of the Afro Horn during his tenure with Sun Ra. Mora-Catlett was so moved with Dumas's message and the concept of an instrument with the power to unite people and "clear out" unfounded notions and misconceptions, that he formed an ensemble around the idea.
The ensemble opened with an invocation praising the ancestors, then wasted no time in plunging into a wildly progressive interpretation of the gospel hymn, "When the Saints Go Marching In," followed by "Afra Jum," a play on the words, "Afro Jam," an open invitation for everyone to participate in the festivities. "Barasuayo Mamakeña" is a praise song dedicated to the West African deity, Elegua. The set concluded with "5XMax," a tribute to the legendary drummer. The music was in the moment, fluid and true to its intrinsic nature, free.
As the evening came to a close there was an eerie silence, a collective feeling of, "What just happened?" and smiles all around. Afro Horn is: Rashaan Carter, bass; Aruan Ortiz, piano; Sam Newsome, reeds; Roman Diaz, percussion/vocals; and Francisco Mora-Catlett, drums, leader. Absent was saxophonist Alex Harding.
CUADERNOS DEL JAZZ
http://www.cuadernosdejazz.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2915
Francisco Mora Catlett
AfroHorn Rare Metal
Francisco Mora Catlett (bat, perc, comp), Sam Newsome (ss), Salim Washington (st, fl, oboe), Alex Harding (sb, cl-b), Aruán Ortiz (p), Rashaan Carter (b), Román Díaz (perc, voz), Andrew Daniels (perc) + vocalistas Nueva York, enero de 2013 AACE Records 13-0001
**** FOUR STARS
Los mentores de Francisco Mora Catlett estarían orgullosos de los avances cuasi astrales del discípulo baterista. Si Max Roach (con homenaje incluido en 5 X Max) y Sun Ra pudieran hoy salir de copas, seguro que no olvidarían comentar la potencia inventiva de Mora Catlett, ni tampoco la energía que desprenden sus composiciones y arreglos en esta segunda salida de su AfroHorn Ensamble. La África atlántica y la tradición cubana consiguiente hacen el resto cuando se unen a las enseñanzas del jazz de cualquier condición: canto yoruba, panderos y tambores, metales como ese tan raro del que, siempre según leyenda del narrador Henry Dumas (1934-1968), dio forma a tres únicos ejemplares en todo el mundo de “afro-horn”.
Las melodías se superponen, sin estridencias ni excesos, la narrativa emerge con fuerza y la santería toma la palabra para lograr un disco importante en el mundo del latin jazz. El piano del joven Aruán Ortiz (que también grabó en el mismo estudio su último trabajo) consigue crear verdaderos mantos rítmicos para que no haya duda de que su instrumento es de percusión, no de cuerda, pero no olvida la melodía en ningún momento, como ocurre en Afra Jum o en la siguiente, Baruasuayo Mamakenya. En fin, toda una sorpresa para cualquier amante del latin que persiga renovar sus expectativas sobre el género.
Enrique Turpin © Cuadernos de Jazz, enero-2014
Copyright 2012 FRANCISCO MORA CATLETT AACE RECORDS. All rights reserved.
FRANCISCO MORA CATLETT AACE RECORDS
NEW YORK, NY
United States
francisc