HENRY
MORA (TROMBONE)
Born in El Paso, Texas USA of
Mexican-American heritage. His interest in music began at age 6 with the violin
in elementary school. After a brief stint with the trumpet, he eventually
settled on the trombone, just before his family moved to Los Angeles,
California, at 14 years of age. His love for music continued into college, where
he became interested in jazz and began writing several Big Band arrangements on
his way to a Bachelor's Degree from California State University, Los Angeles. In
the following years, he worked as a freelance musician with various groups, to
include tours with the Si Zentner Orchestra, Glenn Campbell and Bobbie Gentry.
In 1969, he was called to serve in the Army and sent to fight in the Vietnam
War. After 5 months of combat infantry as "point man" in a Recon Platoon, he was
commissioned by an Army General to organize a band to entertain the troops and
raise the morale. The band, "The Redcatcher Express" developed into a unique
experience in the military, which prompted a book by the same name "The
Redcatcher Express," and is available at www.authorhouse.com.
After completing his tour-of-duty in Vietnam, his freelance career started-up
again, to include a 14-month tour with reggae artist, Johnny Nash. In 1976 he
organized a salsa band "Orquesta Siva," which was picked to open for the "Rolling
Stones" 1976 Tour of the Americas, for 5 consecutive nights at the Los Angeles
Forum. This led to the start-up and leadership of another group, "The Los
Angeles Salsa All-Stars," which was comprised of the finest latin musicians in
Los Angeles.
In 1993, he returned to college and completed a Masters Degree in Music. It is
during this time that the concept for the "Henry Mora Orchestra" surfaced.
Patterned after the orchestras of the Big Band Era such as Count Basie, Tommy
Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and incorporating the musical diversity of
his career, the concept involves combining the classic Big Band style and
well-known music of that era, with salsa, modern jazz harmony, and rhythm 'n
blues (R&B).
This musically eclectic group, featuring lyrics in both English and Spanish,
quickly became a popular group among local jazz and latin musicians in the Los
Angeles area. In September 1995, the "Henry Mora Orchestra" was a featured
artist at the "Santa Barbara International Jazz Festival" held in Santa Barbara,
California, and has been performing in the Southern California area since.
With the release of the orchestra's first cd, 'Round Midnight came the
opportunity to perform for the Playboy Jazz Festival and the 1st Annual
Hollywood Park Jazz Festival. On May 30, 2004 the Henry Mora Orchestra was a
featured artist at the Playboy Jazz Festival in Pasadena, CA, and on July 24,
2004 the Henry Mora Orchestra performed at the 1st Annual Hollywood Park Jazz
Festival in Inglewood, CA. It's success is published in InglewoodToday Magazine
and the U Entertainment Section of Newspapers in the Pasadena Star News, the San
Gabriel Valley News, The Whittier news, and the Inland Empire's Daily Bulletin.
Several reviews followed in the Whittier News, the L.A Times Calendar and
personal biographic history of Henry Mora, story by Paul Anderson in the Inland
Empire's Daily Bulletin Newspape
HENRY
MORA ORCHESTRA - ROUND MIDNIGHT (2003)
A rich blend of salsa and jazz with the Big Band
sound of the thirties and forties and a smooth dancing beat
review by Frank Villafane: HENRY
MORA ORCHESTRA - ROUND MIDNIGHT (2003)
Henry Mora Orchestra - Lover man
Henry Mora Orchestra - El menu
Henry Mora Orchestra - Round Midnight
Henry Mora Orchestra - Canto de el Pajaro
Henry Mora Orchestra - Cry me a river
Henry Mora Orchestra - Puerto Rico
Henry Mora Orchestra - Unforgettable
more
tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
HENRY
MORA ORCHESTRA - "LIVE"
AT THE MONTEBELLO INN (2004)
Swinging salsa Big Band jazz recorded in a live
setting. Tropical rhythms and jazz with Big Band arrangements. An exciting,
energetic, sophisticated style of Big Band music commemorating American jazz and
latin standards
Henry Mora Orchestra - Tenderly
Henry Mora Orchestra - Para Los Rumberos
Henry Mora Orchestra - Besame Mucho
Henry Mora Orchestra - Valdez in the Country
Henry Mora Orchestra - Round Midnight
Henry Mora Orchestra - Tequila
Henry Mora Orchestra - Dunia
Henry Mora Orchestra - Stella by Starlight
more
tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
