Ralph Moore

For the rose breeder, see Ralph S. Moore.

Ralph Moore
Born	(1956-12-24) 24 December 1956 London, UK
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Saxophone
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Reservoir, Criss Cross, Landmark, Savoy

Ralph Moore (born 24 December 1956) is a jazz saxophonist.

Early life

Moore was born in London on 24 December 1956. His father was in the US military, and his mother was English. He grew up in Brixton in London, and after trying various instruments, took up the tenor saxophone at the age of 14.

In 1972 he moved to Santa Maria, California, to live with his father. "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."

Later life and career

Moore began his professional career with a tour of Scandinavia in 1979. He moved to New York the following year. He was part of Horace Silver's band from 1981 to 1985, including for tours of Europe and Japan, and recordings. 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).

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

Discography

As leader

• 1985: Round Trip (Reservoir)
• 1987: 623 C Street (Criss Cross)
• 1988: Rejuvenate! (Criss Cross)
• 1988: Images (Landmark)
• 1990: Furthermore (Landmark)
• 1993: Who It Is You Are (Savoy)
• 2019: Three Score (WJ3)

As sideman

With Kenny Barron

• Invitation (Criss Cross Jazz, 1991)

With Billy Hart

• Rah (Gramavision, 1988)

With Freddie Hubbard

• Bolivia (Music Masters, 1991)

With Bobby Hutcherson

• Cruisin' the 'Bird (Landmark, 1988)

With Jimmy Knepper

• Dream Dancing (Criss Cross, 1986)

With Oscar Peterson

• Oscar Peterson Meets Roy Hargrove and Ralph Moore (1996, Telarc)

With Valery Ponomarev

• Means of Identification (Reservoir, 1985 [1987])
• Trip to Moscow (Reservoir, 1987)

WIth Superblue

• Superblue 2 (1989, Blue Note)

With Cedar Walton

• Mosaic (Music Masters, 1990 [1992]) as Eastern Rebellion
• Simple Pleasure (Music Masters, 1993) as Eastern Rebellion
• Composer (Astor Place, 1996)