Rick Moore has been playing jazz piano for more than 30 years. He is regarded by many to be one of the top jazz pianists in the Treasure Coast area of Florida. Moore was born in Plainfield, NJ. and began playing the organ at the age of 5. After hearing Benny Goodman on his parent's records, he took up the clarinet and began playing in the school band. He also began playing the drums.
While attending high school, Moore took organ lessons and became a church organist at Our Lady of the Mount in Warren Township, NJ. He played for weekly masses, wedding services, and a variety of social functions. After graduating from high school, Moore attended the French School of Music in Plainfield, NJ. The following summer, he made his professional debut playing the piano at a Jersey Shore piano bar. Many jobs followed, including some live radio broadcasts from the Sussex County Fair in NJ.
In 1973, Moore's interest turned toward jazz piano. He joined the New Jersey Jazz Society and began attending jam sessions, as a listener. He became friends with jazz greats Claude Hopkins, Doc Cheatham, and Herb Hall. Moore began jazz improvisation lessons with Fred Amend and studied the music of Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, and Lennie Tristano. By 1974, Moore was learning to play jazz piano at weekly jam sessions with other jazz students. He was also playing many society gigs as a soloist and (in groups) with local musicians.
In 1975, Moore lead a jazz quartet for an extended engagement at O'Connor's restaurant in Watchung, NJ. He studied classical piano with Keith MacDonald for 3 years. Then in 1978, Moore began piano lessons with Sal Mosca in Mount Vernon, NY. For 8 years he studied jazz harmony, ear training, polyrhythms, and improvising with Mosca. Moore frequently worked in jazz groups with bassist Don Messina. He also worked in groups with Dean Robinson, Fred Amend, Frank Slingerland, Bill Chattin, Judy Niemack, Joshua Breakstone, and Vic Juris. During the early 80's, Moore gave many concert performances, including 3 at the Watchung Arts Center.
In 1986, Moore relocated to West Palm Beach, FL. where he worked extended piano engagements at numerous restaurants and country clubs in the Palm Beach area. For many of these dates, he played in groups with bassists Bob Mortensen, Vinnie Burke, Ed DeMatteo and drummer Chris Buckholz. After moving to the Treasure Coast of Florida in 1995, he joined a jazz group with trumpeter Greg Power, and drummer Todd Walker. The group found steady work in clubs, music festivals, and in concerts at the Lyric Theater in Stuart, FL. They often featured Moore's compositions.
Toward the end of the 90's, Moore formed a trio and performed several dates at Heidi's Jazz Club in Cocoa Beach, FL. Moore's first CD "Boulevard Saint Germaine," was released in 2004. It is a collection of solo, duo, and trio performances.
During the summers of 2005-06, Moore performed in concerts at the Watchung Arts Center in NJ. with bassist Don Messina, drummer Bill Chattin, and alto saxophonist Chris Aiello.
Moore continues to play at restaurants, clubs, concerts, and private functions. He averages 100 engagements per year. Along with steady gigs at Cabana Bistro and Taste Restaurant in Hobe Sound, he performs at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago, Everglades Club, International Polo Club and Jupiter Island Club. He carries a repertoire of 500 standard songs and is comfortable playing with groups or as a soloist. Moore says, "I'm always ready to play the piano."
