Jewels and Binoculars

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important, there has been a blossoming of talented clarinetists in improvised music.

One of the most versatile and accomplished musicians to take up the blackwood horn is Michael Moore, who is equally proficient on the bass clarinet and alto saxophone. Originally from northern California, Moore studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. After working briefly in New York, he moved to Amsterdam and quickly found himself at home in the uniquely eclectic and inventive Dutch musical scene. He first played in an expatriate trio with cellist Ernst Reijseger and drummer Michael Vatcher. Now he plays with everyone, leads his own groups, and runs his own label, Ramboy, which has released sixteen CDs.

Moore is a well-schooled musician, renowned for his seemingly inexhaustible repertoire of tunes from many different musical traditions. He can execute the wildest extended techniques as easily as he can play delicate, wistful melodies. He was a member of Gerry Hemingway's highly inventive avant-garde quintet but has also played and recorded traditional duets with pianist Fred Hersch, a friend from student days. For a number of years he worked alongside drummer Han Bennink and cellist Reijseger in the Clusone Trio, a zany group that mixed musical and physical hijinks with amazing interpretations of Gershwin, Berlin, Saint-Sans, Jobim, and just about everyone else. He has also recorded Irish and Peruvian folk tunes as well as bop warhorses.