6 April:

US Saxophonist

Ralph Moore

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Jazz At The Elephant is proud to present this leading voice of the saxophone – a rare chance to hear this fine musician in an intimate and exclusive space

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Over his career, tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore has recorded and performed with an array of jazz stars including Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, Ray Brown, Roy Haynes, J J Johnson, Cedar Walton, Bobby Hutcherson, McCoy Tyner, Roy Hargrove, Oscar Peterson, Kenny Barron among others.

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Moore has a number of critically acclaimed albums out on Landmark (now 32 Jazz), Criss Cross, Concord, Reservoir and Savoy labels.

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Relocating to Los Angeles in the 90’s, he performed in the band for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for 15 years. During this time, he has never separated from the purity of the passion that drives him every day, collaborating in a few cooperative jazz quartets and quintets.

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One in particular—aptly named Escape from New York, featuring some of his Tonight Show cohorts, drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith and bassist Bob Hurst. “The outlet was absolutely necessary,” says Moore. The group toured around locally for five years, honing a sound and a repertoire.

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With The Tonight Show with Jay Leno well behind him now, Moore is poised to get back to what is intrinsically and innately who he is–a jazz musician playing and creating the music he loves. Recent performances include concerts with drummer Willie Jones’ quartet at Jazz in Lincoln Center, and collaborations featuring artists such as Jeremy Pelt, Lewis Nash, Eric Reed and Roy McCurdy.

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London-born Moore has been a dedicated musician since he was a teenager, and life has paid huge dividends. Moore was born to a British show business family and although means were scarce, life was, nonetheless, culturally rich. His mother, Josephine Wood, a lifelong dancer, and the subject of a BBC2 Black Britain documentary, encouraged Moore creatively. High school years were spent with his American father in Santa Maria, CA and college at Berklee College of Music in Boston before making the sojourn to New York in 1981 and eventually to Los Angeles.

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As he looks forward to the future, Ralph Moore’s musical journey continues to evolve.

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with Simon Woolf: bass • Alex Bryson: piano • Rick Finlay: drums • Jeremy Shoham: sax

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