A Quintet of Young Players for...

Tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore, like Childs, has chosen the less-traveled road of individuality. Though the New York-based hornman reveres the late John Coltrane, rather than mimicking his idol’s style, he has melded some of Trane’s warmer aspects with his own lyrical concept, resulting in an approach that stands out from, rather than fades in with, the crowd. With his crying, human sound, his ardent sense of swing and his ear for pretty notes, Moore, more than many of his contemporaries, authentically captures the best values of jazz’s ‘50s and ‘60s--where indigo-hued melody and crackling drive reigned. And with a current interest in returning to those earlier jazz forms being adopted by many young jazzmen, Moore will certainly be one of those standing at the forefront of the rekindled mainstream movement. His recent “Images” LP (Landmark) is one of the most rewarding and listenable jazz releases in past memory, and Moore’s February Los Angeles appearance--his first here as a leader--will get the local jazz decade off to a rousing start.