You might know him from the live band of Carl Craig’s Innerzone Orchestra. Or have encountered him as a fan of Sun Ra on the record »Beyond the Purple Star Zone«. He also toured with the Sun Ra Arkestra for a while back in the day. From his own self-released debut album from 1986, percussionist Francisco Mora Catlett is probably more familiar to a limited circle of listeners. Can catch up on it all now. In Detroit, where the son of Mexican artists had moved after the Sun Ra experience, he formed his own ensemble with pianist Kenny Cox, bassist Rodney Whitaker and fellow percussionists Jerome Le Duff, Alberto Nacif and Emile Borde. On »Mora! I« also features saxophonist and flutist Vincent Bowens and here and there vocalist Teresa Mora. Afro-Cuban jazz provides a rough bearing for the rather explosively condensed rhythms on the record. Steel drums are part of it, also a berimbau. The things one might expect from such music, sultry moods for instance, are definitely present, but stirred into such a colorful cocktail that possible clichés spontaneously cancel each other out. Jazz that seems spiritual without hurting.
Mora! I
