Tony Moore was living in Nashville, gigging and studying Industrial Arts & Technology at Tennessee State University, when he got the call for his first professional gig touring with the Bobby Jones Gospel Show. Over two and a half decades later, the Memphis born, Chicago raised drummer is still keeping perfect time, laying down the pocket grooves and improvising brilliantly for some of the top names in jazz, R&B, pop, hip-hop, funk, blues and gospel.
Perhaps best known to contemporary urban jazz fans for his decade plus of touring and recording with saxophonist Gerald Albright—including his 2006 recording New Beginnings–the Los Angeles based musician’s unique style and rich versatility has led him to become one of the city’s most in demand touring and recording drummers. His constantly growing list of legendary and superstar credits includes George Benson, The Jazz Crusaders, The Isley Brothers, Gladys Knight, Jonathan Butler, Randy Crawford, Jon B., Tupac Shakur, Kenny Lattimore, Chante Moore, Howard Hewett, Bobby Caldwell, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun, Boney James, Euge Groove, Jeff Golub, Down To the Bone, Doc Powell, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Dakota Moon, Bobby Lyle, Phil Perry, Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor, Hubert Laws, Ronnie Laws, Down To The Bone, Keiko Matsui, Shirley Caesar, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Kirk Franklin, Rufus, Peabo Bryson, Eric Marienthal, Jimmy Haslip and Randy Brecker.
Most recently, expanding his jazz artistry even further, Moore has been touring the U.S. and world with guitar legend Robben Ford, Grammy winning singer Diane Schuur and at times, with guitarist and NAE Jazz Master George Benson.
He is currently using breaks in his busy sideman schedule to book dates for his own group, The Tony Moore Band, whose current lineup will make its debut at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, California May 30 (featuring special guests Jeff Lorber, Lori Jenaire and Elan Trotman) and is scheduled to play August 26 at the Idyllwild Jazz in the Pines Festival in Idyllwild, California.
Reconnecting after several years with Lorber on Norman Brown’s Summer Storm tour in 2007, Moore has worked steadily over the past five years on numerous projects for the pioneering keyboardist and producer. In addition to touring Europe with the newly reformed Jeff Lorber Fusion(along with Eric Marienthal, Jimmy Haslip & Randy Brecker) in 2009, the drummer worked in the studio with Lorber on such popular recordings as Lorber’s solo album Heard That (2008), Najee’s Mind Over Matter (2009), Alexander Zonjic’s Doin’ The D (2009), Marcin Nowakowski’s Better Days (2009), Katharine McPhee’s Unbroken (2010), Brad Rambur’s Can’t Put It Down (2010), Terje Lie’s Urban Vacation (2010), U-Nam’s Weekend in LA~George Benson Tribute(2012) and Richard Elliot’s latest, In The Zone (2011).
Moore’s other prominent studio credits include Gladys Knight’s Grammy winning One Voice (2005), Dwight Howard’s Shoot For The Stars (2010), Dreamgirls: Music for the Motion Picture Soundtrack (2006), One for the Money: Music for the Motion Picture Soundtrack (2012) Bobby Lyle’s Joyful (2002) and Elan Trotman’s Love and Sax (2011). The drummer and his production partner, keyboardist Tim Gant, have teamed to produce numerous contemporary jazz tracks, including the radio favorite “Daddy-O” from Rick Braun’s Esperanto album. In addition to playing drums on Brian Simpson’s It’s All Good (2005), Moore co-wrote the album’s second single “Here With You” with the keyboardist.
