Numa S. “Pee Wee” Moore, R.I.P.
Numa “Pee Wee” Moore passed at about 4am this morning (4/13/09) in Raleigh, his hometown. Pee Wee Moore enjoyed a long tenure playing baritone sax in Dizzy Gillespie’s Band. He also played with Jimmie Lunceford and Louis Jordan, among others. Pee Wee moved back to Raleigh several years ago and was a much beloved (if sometimes irascible) fixture on the local music scene. Like many jazz musicians of his generation (b. 1928) Pee Wee was a very nurturing person for young musicians - on first encounter a little intimidating and gruff but ultimately on your side if you demonstrated serious talent and intent. He will be missed.
Pee Wee was a gracious individual. I collected everything he recorded from Lucky Millinder to James Moody and Dizzy Gillespie. By the way, he never did play with Jimmie Lunceford. He did play in the Apollo pit orchestra for a while, though.