Charles Brown, Nat King Cole, Oscar Moore & Ray Charles - The Enchanting Guitar of Oscar Moore. Vol.1 (Remastered) (2025) Hi-Res

Oscar Moore (1916–1981) is best known as the guitarist of the original Nat King Cole Trio, a role he held for ten years beginning in 1937. His innovative use of harmony and chords was essential to the trio’s iconic sound, earning widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike. During this period, he won prestigious awards from Down Beat, Metronome, and Esquire magazines (1944–1948), firmly establishing himself as the premier jazz guitarist of his era.

After leaving Cole's trio in late 1947, Moore joined his brother’s group, Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers, for five years, marking a shift toward the R&B field with occasional forays into jazz. In 1952, he returned to leading small jazz combos, performing primarily in Los Angeles clubs. However, his career never regained its former prominence. Between 1952 and 1955, he recorded for labels such as Standard, Skylark, Tampa, Norgran, and Omegatape, leaving behind a small but impressive body of work.

Moore voluntarily stepped away from the music scene in the mid-to-late 1950s, amid the rise of rock and roll. In 1965, producer David Hubert persuaded him to record an album in tribute to the recently deceased Nat King Cole, marking Moore’s final recording.

Jazz guitar legend Kenny Burrell summarized Moore’s legacy in 1994: "Moore laid down the foundation for future guitarists in jazz and popular music."

—Jordi Pujol