Francisco Mora Catlett / AfroHORN
New York, NY
Grant amount: $15,000
Performances
Bop Shop Records. Rochester, NY. 3/24/2022
City of Asylum. Pittsburgh, PA. 3/27/2022
Rican Structure Workshop Latino Community Center. Detroit, MI. 3/30/2022
Blue Llama Jazz Club. Ann Arbor, MI. 3/31/2022
Trinosophes. Detroit, MI. 4/2/2022
Cliff Bell's. Detroit, MI. 4/03/2022
About the Artist
The AfroHORN Jazz ensemble, was conceived by Francisco Mora Catlett in Sun Ra's home, during Francisco's tenure with the Sun Ra Arkestra in the 70's after reading Henry Dumas's story, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?”. In this story, the Afro horn is a powerful instrument that unites and completes the music circle, bringing new light and life. The first AfroHORN appearance was during the 80’s in Detroit, at historic Baker's Keyboard Lounge with tenor saxophonist Vincent Bowens, tenor saxophonist James Carter, bassist Rodney Whitaker, and drummer Francisco Mora Catlett. AfroHORN’s first NYC performance was at the Stone. Once again, a strong and appropriate lineup and music was built for this exciting concept. AfroHORN’s core includes Detroit-born, baritone saxophonist Alex Harding, tenor saxophonist Salim Washington, and bassist Hakim Jami. The AfroHORN jazz performance can also include pianist Aruan Ortiz, soprano saxophonist Sam Newsome, and bassist Rashaan Carter augmented by the master Afro-Cuban percussionist Roman Diaz. Together, they explore the musical connections between the Caribbean, America, Africa, and Latin America. AfroHORN is a musical metaphor for the middle passage: a nexus, a site of negotiation, a place that unites the Diaspora through a shared experience of in-between-ness.