Alton Moore

Who was Alton Moore?

Alton "Slim" Moore was an American jazz trombonist.

Moore began on baritone horn before settling on trombone by age 17. He played with local bandleaders and territory bands in his youth, such as those of Georgia Barlowe, Eddie Lemon, Gonzelle White, and Gene Coy. He moved to New York City early in the 1930s, playing with Jack Butler, Charlie Skeete, and Bobby Neal. He switched ensembles frequently in New York, and in 1938 did a short tour of Cuba with Leon Gross's orchestra. Toward the end of the decade Moore moved up to play in more high-profile bands such as those of Fats Waller, Coleman Hawkins, Hot Lips Page, and Charlie Johnson. He played with Ella Fitzgerald and Benny Carter in the early 1940s, and with Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong later in the decade.

By the 1950s Moore had reduced to part-time playing, after an extended stay in the band of Stafford "Pazuza" Simon. He played with Fletcher Henderson in 1957, and in the 1960s played in the Prince Hall Symphonic Band in New York as well as other big band revival outfits.

In addition to trombone, Moore also occasionally recorded on trumpet, tuba, euphonium, and did some scat singing on his records with Fats Waller.