Michael Moore (saxophonist and clarinetist)
Encyclopedia
Michael Moore is an American-born jazz
musician (clarinet
, saxophone
) and composer
who has resided in the Netherlands
since 1982.
, the son of a semi-professional musician. He studied music at Humboldt State and in 1977 graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music
, where he studied with Jaki Byard
and Gunther Schuller
, and was a classmate of Marty Ehrlich
's. Moore played in a wide variety of musical contexts - especially those in support of theatre and dance groups. By 1982 he was a regular member of Misha Mengelberg
's Instant Composers Pool and had relocated to Amsterdam. He remains active in ICP to this day. He also was member of Georg Gräwes Grubenklang Orchester.
Aside from ICP, Moore is perhaps best known as one-third of the Clusone 3 (aka Trio Clusone and Clusone Trio), along with cellist Ernst Reijseger
and drummer Han Bennink
. Originally meant only to play a single date at a festival in Clusone, Italy, the trio toured irregularly for several years and recorded six CDs, including one of freely-interpreted Irving Berlin
compositions.
Moore's first recording as a leader was in 1992 but it was with 1994's Chicoutimi that he began to earn serious recognition as a composer. The drummerless trio on this CD (Fred Hersch
, piano, and Mark Helias
, bass) was inspired by the duo recordings of Lee Konitz
and Gil Evans
, and recalls in places the legendary Jimmy Giuffre
trios of the early 1960s.
Moore continues to play in a very wide variety of musical contexts. Another group in which he plays - Jewels and Binoculars, a collective trio with bassist Lindsey Horner and drummer Michael Vatcher - is devoted to interpretations of Bob Dylan
songs.
In 1986, Moore won the VPRO/Boy Edgar Award
, regarded as the most prestigious jazz award in the Netherlands. In 1991, he founded Ramboy records to document his music. The label had 22 releases as of August 2006.
Moore started his Jazz Quintet in 2005. In this quintet, Moore pairs himself with accomplished Dutch players: trumpeter Eric Vloeimans, pianist Marc van Roon
, bassist Paul Berner, and drummer Owen Hart, Jr. In October 2005, the Quintet recorded the album Osiris.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician (clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
) and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
who has resided in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
since 1982.
Background and career
Moore was born and raised in Eureka, CaliforniaEureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
, the son of a semi-professional musician. He studied music at Humboldt State and in 1977 graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
, where he studied with Jaki Byard
Jaki Byard
Jaki Byard was an American jazz pianist and composer who also played trumpet and saxophone, among several other instruments. He was noteworthy for his eclectic style, incorporating everything from ragtime and stride to free jazz...
and Gunther Schuller
Gunther Schuller
Gunther Schuller is an American composer, conductor, horn player, author, historian, and jazz musician.- Biography and works :...
, and was a classmate of Marty Ehrlich
Marty Ehrlich
Marty Ehrlich is a multi-instrumentalist and is considered one of the leading figures in experimental or avant-garde jazz....
's. Moore played in a wide variety of musical contexts - especially those in support of theatre and dance groups. By 1982 he was a regular member of Misha Mengelberg
Misha Mengelberg
Misha Mengelberg is a Dutch jazz pianist and composer. He won the Gaudeamus International Composers Award in 1961.-Biography:...
's Instant Composers Pool and had relocated to Amsterdam. He remains active in ICP to this day. He also was member of Georg Gräwes Grubenklang Orchester.
Aside from ICP, Moore is perhaps best known as one-third of the Clusone 3 (aka Trio Clusone and Clusone Trio), along with cellist Ernst Reijseger
Ernst Reijseger
ERNST REIJSEGER Cellist and composer Ernst Reijseger plays the cello from the age of seven and began as a performing cellist and improviser in 1969. From that time on he developed his own musical vocabulary...
and drummer Han Bennink
Han Bennink
Han Bennink is a Dutch jazz drummer and percussionist. On occasion his recordings have featured his playing on clarinet, violin, banjo and piano....
. Originally meant only to play a single date at a festival in Clusone, Italy, the trio toured irregularly for several years and recorded six CDs, including one of freely-interpreted Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
compositions.
Moore's first recording as a leader was in 1992 but it was with 1994's Chicoutimi that he began to earn serious recognition as a composer. The drummerless trio on this CD (Fred Hersch
Fred Hersch
Fred Hersch is a contemporary American jazz pianist who has become a consistent and highly demanded performer on the international jazz scene....
, piano, and Mark Helias
Mark Helias
Mark Helias is an American jazz double bass player and composer born in New Brunswick, New Jersey.He did not begin playing the double bass until the age of 20, graduating from Yale University's School of Music with a Masters degree in 1976. He has also studied at Rutgers University...
, bass) was inspired by the duo recordings of Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago, Illinois.Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings...
and Gil Evans
Gil Evans
Gil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States...
, and recalls in places the legendary Jimmy Giuffre
Jimmy Giuffre
James Peter Giuffre was an American jazz clarinet and saxophone player, composer and arranger. He is notable for his development of forms of jazz which allowed for free interplay between the musicians, anticipating forms of free improvisation.-Biography:Born in Dallas, Texas, of Italian ancestry,...
trios of the early 1960s.
Moore continues to play in a very wide variety of musical contexts. Another group in which he plays - Jewels and Binoculars, a collective trio with bassist Lindsey Horner and drummer Michael Vatcher - is devoted to interpretations of Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
songs.
In 1986, Moore won the VPRO/Boy Edgar Award
VPRO/Boy Edgar Award
The VPRO/Boy Edgar Award, is an annual award given to a Dutch jazz musician, composer, or bandleader. The individual must have made significant contributions to the Dutch jazz scene over a significant period of time. The award is a sculpture by Dutch fine artist Jan Wolkers, and a cash prize of...
, regarded as the most prestigious jazz award in the Netherlands. In 1991, he founded Ramboy records to document his music. The label had 22 releases as of August 2006.
Moore started his Jazz Quintet in 2005. In this quintet, Moore pairs himself with accomplished Dutch players: trumpeter Eric Vloeimans, pianist Marc van Roon
Marc van Roon
Marc van Roon is a Dutch jazz pianist. He combines music performance with his work as a creative facilitator for leaders, groups and organizations in change and learning processes applying the art of improvisation as the main source of inspiration...
, bassist Paul Berner, and drummer Owen Hart, Jr. In October 2005, the Quintet recorded the album Osiris.