Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance.
(Doors open at 5pm for dinner/Seating begins at 6:15p for the first show & 9:00p for the second show) **************************************************************************************************
Francisco Mora-Catlett comes to his visionary work naturally: born into a family of illustrious artists (Mexican painter Francisco Mora and African-American Sculptress Elizabeth Catlett). He began his musical career in Mexico, where he grew up. He studied music at the Berklee School of Music.
He joined in Mexico City and worked with Sun Ra’s Arkestra, from 1973 to 1980. In 1987 he released
his first album as a leader on his own label AACE Records, the Afro-Latin-Jazz project, Mora! And received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to study drumming and percussion with Max Roach in New York City. Mora-Catlett worked with Roach’s advanced all percussion ensemble M’Boom, appearing on two Blue Moon LPs, 1990’s “To the Max” and 1992’s “Live at S.O.B.’s New York”.
In 1993, he became a visiting professor of music at Michigan State University, and continued leading his own Afro-Latin jazz projects, which played around the Detroit area. Mora-Catlett played drums and percussion on “Bug in The Bassbin,” – the 1996 debut single by Detroit techno producer Carl Craig’s Groundbreaking jazz/electronica fusion projects Innerzone Orchestra. He also appeared on the debut Innerzone Orchestra full-length, 1999’s Programmed. In 2000 he created “OUTERZONE”, featured in The North Sea jazz Festival.
He is co-founder of “OYU ORO” Afro-Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble in New York City lead by Cuban dancer and choreographer “La Mora” Danys Perez.