Escape Artist

Whether the acclaimed and decidedly persuasive tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore is on the stand with Kevin Eubanks’ band playing a funk tune on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” or taking part in the A-1 cooperative jazz quartet, Escape From New York, he’s all business.

“For myself, I take music seriously,” said the youthful veteran, who has played lengthy stints with such jazz greats as trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, pianist Cedar Walton and drummer Roy Haynes. “So on the ‘Tonight Show,’ for example, I try to take whatever they give us and do something with it, make the best out of it. The music’s pretty diverse, and the challenge is to get away from the notes and take the pieces somewhere else. I’m up for that.”

Moore joined “The Tonight Show” about six years ago after a solid career as a top-drawer sideman in the New York jazz world. While the TV gig pays for plenty of rent, he relishes the free time it gives him to work on his craft, be it the saxophone or the piano.

“I pretty much bounce between the two any time I’m not working at NBC or out playing,” he said.

The London-born saxophonist, whose most recent album is “Who It Is You Are” (Savoy), has made performing on local bandstands a priority since he moved to Los Angeles.

For several years, he’s been a part of Escape From New York, a pretty wild name for a straight-ahead jazz band that cooks hard and plays with feeling.

The group, which appears tonight at Rocco in Bel-Air, also features pianist Greg Kurstin, bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith. This is a foursome that Moore really enjoys.

“We’ve been honing a sound and a repertoire for about five years, and along with that is a rapport, a trust and support, that makes things very comfortable for me,” said the saxophonist with the warm, singing sound. “We understand how each of us hears things, so you can take a chance and you know the guys are going to follow you. That feels really good to me.”

The band plays originals by members and more obscure jazz pieces, such as Woody Shaw’s “Moontrane” and Wayne Shorter’s “Edda.”

Moore has been a dedicated musician since he was a teenager, and the life has paid huge dividends.

“I’m terribly curious about music,” he said. “It’s just wide open to me.”

In Brief: Guitarist Doug MacDonald teams up with ace drummer Jack LeCompte and bassist Ed Vodicka on Sundays at 9 p.m. at Sardo’s in Toluca Lake. No cover, no minimum. (818) 846-8126).

BE THERE

Escape From New York, with Ralph Moore and others, tonight from 10 to 1 at Rocco Ristorante, 2930 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel-Air. $10 cover, no minimum. Call (310) 475-9807.

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Zan Stewart writes about jazz for the Valley Edition. He can be reached at Zansky@AOL.com.