Ralph Moore

For the American miniature rose breeder, see Ralph S. Moore. For the English classicist and headmaster, see Ralph Westwood Moore.

Ralph Moore
Background information
Born (1956-12-24) 24 December 1956 (age 67)
Brixton, London, England
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentSaxophone
Years active1981–present
LabelsReservoir, Criss Cross, Landmark, Savoy

Ralph Moore (born 24 December 1956)[1] is an English jazz saxophonist.

Early life

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Moore was born in Brixton, London, England.[1][2] His mother was the dancer Josie Woods, and his father was in the US military.[2][3] He spent his childhood in Brixton, and after trying various instruments, took up the tenor saxophone at the age of 14.[2]

In 1972, he moved to Santa Maria, California, to live with his father.[2] His mother had not wanted him to grow up in Brixton.[3] "Around 1975 he moved to Boston, where he played locally and attended the Berklee College of Music. His studies were interrupted when his apartment was robbed and he was shot and seriously wounded, and he never received a degree."[2]

Later life and career

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Moore began his professional career with a tour of Scandinavia in 1979.[2] He moved to New York the following year.[2] He was part of Horace Silver's band from 1981 to 1985, including for tours of Europe and Japan, and recordings.[2] He then played with numerous musicians, including Roy Haynes (around 1982–86), Darrell Grant (1986–87), Dizzy Gillespie's reunion band (1987), Freddie Hubbard (around 1987–91), and Gene Harris (1989–90).[2]

Moore's first recording as leader was for Reservoir Records in 1985.[4] He subsequently recorded for Landmark, Criss Cross, and Savoy.[4] Starting in 1995, he was part of Kevin Eubanks's band for The Tonight Show.[2]

Discography

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As leader

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As sideman

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With Kenny Barron

With Billy Hart

With Freddie Hubbard

With Bobby Hutcherson

With Jimmy Knepper

With Oscar Peterson

With Valery Ponomarev

With Ben Riley

With Rob Schneiderman

With Superblue

With Cedar Walton

Ray Brown Trio, Moore Makes Four, 1990

References

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  1. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 292. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kennedy, Gary W. (2003), Moore, Ralph (Algernon), Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J643700
  3. ^ a b Wilmer, Val (2 August 2008). "Josie Woods". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b Yanow, Scott. "Ralph Moore". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
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