Far Out Recordings reissues two albums by Sun Ra Arkestra percussionist Francisco Mora Catlett

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Far Out Recordings reissues two albums by Sun Ra Arkestra percussionist Francisco Mora Catlett

Far Out Recordings reissues, for the first time ever on vinyl, two groundbreaking Latin jazz recordings, titled Mora! and Mora! II from Mexican-American percussionist and former member of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Francisco Mora Catlett.

Born in Washington DC, Mora worked as a session percussionist for Capitol Records during the late sixties. From there he studied at Berklee Music College in Boston, MA from 1970-73, before moving to Mexico City with the intentions to ignite an avant-garde movement with that region. After the Sun Ra Arkestra came to perform, Mora ended up joining the group and performing with them for the next seven years.

Following his time in the Arkestra, Mora settled in Detroit where he began working on his debut album, which became Mora!. Released in 1986, the music is highly influenced by Afro-Cuban and South American rhythms, blending together layered hypnotic percussion grooves with soulful jazz melodies, held down by a superb backing ensemble that included keyboardist Kenny Cox, founder of the legendary Strata Records, esteemed bassist Rodney Whitaker of the Roy Hargrove Quintet and percussionists Jerome Le Duff, Alberto Nacif, and Emile Borde.

The equally brilliant Mora! II, recorded shortly after Mora!, featured an expanded line up that included trumpet legend and member of Detroit’s Tribe collective, Marcus Belgrave. On this follow-up session, which was shelved until 2012 and originally only available on CD, moves deeper into South America, exploring Brazilian-inspired melodies and samba rhythms. The jazz dance gem “Amazona” was released as a twelve-inch single featuring remixes by Detroit techno pioneer Carl Craig in 2004 on Kindred Spirits.

Following these releases, Mora went on to explore a more electronic afro-futurist direction as part of Craig’s groundbreaking group Innerzone Orchestra, and later teaming up with Arkestra’s Marshall Allen, to form the Innerzone Orchestra spin-off Outerzone.

From start to finish, both Mora! and Mora! II are masterful Latin jazz recordings, and reissuing them at the same time provides an experience where listeners can fully take in the progression from one session to the next. Certainly one of the most forward-thinking percussionists of his time, hopefully these release will bring much due respect to the pure genius that is Francisco Mora Catlett.