Peterborough Jazz Club: (From the USA) Ralph Moore Quartet ‘The Homecoming Tour’

Few musicians boast the history and experience of tenor saxophone great Ralph Moore, a heavyweight in the jazz world for decades. Born in Brixton, South London, in 1956, Moore grew up in a culturally rich environment. His mother, Josephine Wood, was a lifelong dancer and the subject of a BBC2 Black Britain documentary.

Moore’s musical journey began when he moved to the U.S. in 1972 as a teenager, dedicating himself to the saxophone. After attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, he embarked on a career as a jazz musician and later received the Lenny Johnson Memorial Award for outstanding musicianship. Over the years, Moore has played and recorded with an incredible array of jazz legends, including Dizzy Gillespie (1987), Horace Silver (1981-85), Freddie Hubbard (1987-91), Ray Brown, Roy Haynes (1982-86), J.J. Johnson, Cedar Walton (1991-94), Bobby Hutcherson, McCoy Tyner, Roy Hargrove, Oscar Peterson, and Kenny Barron, to name just a few.

Moore’s passion for the tenor saxophone and his lifelong study of the instrument are palpable in his performances. For 15 years, he was a tenor saxophonist with The Tonight Show Orchestra under Jay Leno, where he collaborated with artists like Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney. During this time, Moore also worked with various jazz quartets and quintets, including Escape from New York, which featured fellow Tonight Show band members Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums and Bob Hurst on bass.

Ralph Moore has released several albums for labels such as Landmark (now 32 Jazz), Criss Cross, Concord, Reservoir, and Savoy. He can also be heard as a sideman on numerous celebrated jazz albums, with one standout being his work on Kenny Barron’s Invitation. Known for his solid, straight-ahead style, Moore has earned a reputation for being an inspiring and commanding presence on the bandstand.

In recent years, Moore has performed with Willie Jones’ quartet at Jazz at Lincoln Center and collaborated with prominent artists like Jeremy Pelt, Lewis Nash, Eric Reed, and Roy McCurdy. In 2024, Ralph Moore will embark on a quintet tour of Israel, celebrating the music of Dexter Gordon.

As part of his “homecoming” tour in the UK, Moore will be joined by a stellar rhythm section. With many of the concerts selling out weeks in advance, fans are strongly advised to secure their tickets early for the rare opportunity to see one of the finest saxophonists in the world in action.

Trailers:

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