Belton Mouras Jr: Movies & Music
- Smooth Jazz Network
- 18 hours ago
- 3 min read
Belton Mouras, Jr. has been busy, releasing his country debut and working on a feature length musical that is ripe with singles.
You might remember watching Belton Mouras Jr dance with a bunch of zombies in his 2024 short film, "Fingers: The World's First Vegan Zombie Movie." The Fingers short and two fully choreographed song-and-dance videos have garnered over three million combined views, which spurred Mouras Jr. to expand his imaginative vegan zombie story into a full-length musical feature.
Filming for " Fingers: The Vegan Zombie Musical," wrapped in Sacramento, California this past month. The film features a wide-ranging ensemble that includes Broadway performer Grace Field and Sacramento opera vocalists Omari Tau and Vanessa Martucci, who appear in a showcase number Mouras Jr. calls “Opera Rock Hop”—a high-energy fusion of opera, rock, and hip-hop. Two-time Emmy Award-winning jazz musician Tony Saunders and Billboard chart-topping flutist Althea René also make cameo appearances.
“As the film’s creator—providing both the story and the music—I’ve been grateful for the incredible opportunity to also play the lead role of Fingers and bring the character to life, bringing together multiple creative platforms into one cohesive and entertaining experience—creating an epic cinematic universe for Fingers.” - Belton Mouras, Jr.
Last October, Mouras Jr. released the opening song-and-dance number from Fingers: The Vegan Zombie Musical as a standalone single “What A World” along with a video of the scene featuring 25 dancers on location in Sacramento. Watch “What A World (We Live In)”:
His single "Dynamo" was also thanks to the Fingers production. He was composing for the film when he realized the song deserved to be released as a standalone single.
Performing alongside Belton Mouras, Jr. is nine-time GRAMMY® nominee Gerald Albright playing saxophone and two-time Emmy winner Tony Saunders on bass.
“Dynamo” warms its engines with Mouras, Jr.’s flickering keyboard and piano phrases before the beat kicks in, quickly ramping the track up to full throttle. As Albright’s sax and Saunders’s elastic basslines join, “Dynamo” rockets under the propulsion of Mouras, Jr.’s percussive drum programming. His fingers dance nimbly over the piano keys intertwined with Albright’s impassioned and unrestrained horn play. Hurtling toward its climax, the track surges with the energy of a thrill ride. Touching back down to earth, “Dynamo” concludes with a slow, deliberate fade.
“Dynamo" was always meant to express a sudden, dynamic burst of energy. That explosive feeling is where the song title came from. It began while I was working on a film scene that needed something urgent and kinetic, but as the music evolved it took on a life of its own—becoming a driving, beat-forward groove that felt too powerful for the scene and perfect as a standalone track.” (Belton Mouras, Jr.)
Belton Mouras, Jr. has expanded his creative avenues to country music now as well. The cinematic love song, written and produced by Mouras Jr., dropped within weeks of his new contemporary jazz single, “Dynamo,” featuring nine-time GRAMMY® nominee Gerald Albright and two-time Emmy winner Tony Saunders.
Pivoting from jazz to country is in Mouras Jr.’s DNA. His Cajun father was from Louisiana, where both genres are woven into the culture. Mouras Jr. spent many summers in the Creole/Cajun state, absorbing its musical and cultural diversity — influences he later channeled into his work in music, filmmaking, and painting.
Mouras Jr. turned to his own marriage for inspiration on “Hold My Hand With Your Heart,” which emerged following a relationship counseling session he attended with his wife, Lola, who co-stars in the video. The lyrics tell the story of a couple too deeply invested to walk away yet challenged to move forward — choosing to lean into love rather than retreat from it. One partner vulnerably extends a hand, inviting the other to trust in the strength of their bond and shared commitment, and to step together into something deeper, more rooted, and enduring.
“During one of our refresher therapy sessions, we came to a powerful realization — that the ‘inner little boy’ and ‘inner little girl’ within each of us could truly connect with deeper empathy beyond everyday disagreements. Even with that awareness, it was still a conscious, shared decision to move past life’s occasional challenges and step into a more mature, evolved love together,” said Mouras Jr., who lives with his wife of 28 years in Sacramento. “That realization became the emotional foundation of the song. I gave her the video on Valentine’s Day — she was deeply moved and watched it many times throughout the day.”
Watch "Hold My Hand" below. And keep up with the latest news from Belton Mouras, Jr. on Facebook or on his website.
