Russell "Big Chief" Moore
b. 13 August 1912, nr. Sacaton, Arizona, USA, d. 15 December 1983. A native American, of the Pima tribe, Moore began playing trombone in the Chicago area before settling in the mid-30s in Southern California, where he played in one of Lionel Hampton's first bands. By the end of the decade he had moved to New Orleans, where he became a regular musical associate of many of the older generation of traditional jazzmen. In 1944 he joined Louis Armstrong for a three-year spell, then worked in and around New York with Sidney Bechet, Eddie Condon, Buck Clayton, Red Allen, Oran ‘Hot Lips’ Page, Pee Wee Russell and many others. Occasional trips to Europe brought him to the attention of a wider range of fans and a short period with Armstrong's All Stars, beginning in 1964, further enhanced his reputation. He spent part of the '60s in Canada and led his own bands, recording occasionally on into the '70s. In the early '80s he was again on tour in Europe but died in December 1983. Moore's style was well-suited to the ensemble playing of the traditional New Orleans-style band, but his soloing, especially in the '50s and '60s, had much to commend it.