Today, in recognition of Indigenous People’s Day, we salute Native American jazz trombonist Russell Moore, who sometimes used the nickname “Big Chief.” Born in Arizona in 1912, Moore was a member of the Pima tribe and grew up on the Gila River Indian Reservation. Musical performances were important to community life on the reservation particularly due to the inaccessibility of record players and radios. Moore's exposure to music from local bands and through performances of traditional Pima music sparked his interest in music from a young age.

Following the death of his father in 1924, Moore moved to Blue Island, Illinois where they lived with their uncle and aunt, William and Marie Moore. William was a bandleader who taught the brothers trumpet, French horn, trombone, piano, bass, euphonium and drums. In 1929 Moore left Blue Island and moved to Chicago’s South Side where he worked odd jobs. It was there that Moore heard Louis Armstrong play for the first time as he stood outside the Savoy Ballroom. Moore eventually returned to Arizona where he enrolled at Tucson High School and played trombone in the school band. In 1930 he attended Sherman Indian High School in California and again performed in the school band as well as with local acts. In 1933 Moore graduated and was named "up and coming jazz man of the year."

After graduating Moore moved to Los Angeles and was a freelance trombonist. His career took a big step forward when he became a member of Lionel Hampton’s band in 1935. But, when Hampton’s band moved to New York City, Moore left the group and eventually moved to New Orleans where he joined Papa Celestin’s ensemble. In the early 1940s Moore played with Alberta Hunter and Noble Sissle. At the end of 1944, some musicians from Louis Armstrong’s band heard Moore performing in the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra and asked him to meet Armstrong in New York. Moore played lead trombone with Armstrong's last big band for three years. After the dissolution of Armstrong's orchestra, Moore joined Sidney Bechet’s quartet and toured in Europe.

During the 1950s Moore played with Ruby Braff, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon, Jimmy MCPartland, Wild Bill Davison, Buck Clayton and Frank Sinatra. In 1964, Moore re-joined Armstrong, taking Trummy Young’s place in the All Stars. With this line-up Moore appeared on some famous Armstrong recordings such as Hello Dolly. Moore toured across Europe, Asia, and the Pacific with the All Stars.

Among Moore's final performances was an appearance on the "Night of the First Americans", a televised performance at the Kennedy Center in 1982. He played his own composition called Chant for Wounded Knee. Moore died after a lengthy illness associated with diabetes in December 1983.

Here is a link to Moore playing with Louis Armstrong's All-Stars during a February 1964 television appearance:

"BASIN STREET BLUES"