Moore, center / Photo by Kevin Tomanka

Set in the corner of a large winery tasting room at the back of the Seven Brides Brewery, the stage is unassuming, with its backdrop of giant white walls.  It’s not clear what kind of venue this space will make, but then the music starts, and the room is full — of people, of sound.  What starts off as a giant cold room becomes intimate with warmth as the music easily fills the space, and patrons move closer with their glasses of wine and their sweethearts, willing to commit once they’ve gotten a taste.

Robert Moore is a crooner, and a character. He’s definitely got classic vocal quality not unlike some of jazz music’s historic greats, and there is a lot of grit too, something probably only gained by life experience. He flies up and down with great range, and is a master scat artist to boot. You can definitely hear his southern roots infused into this jazz. To put it bluntly; Moore doesn’t sound like a white guy. The man is certainly an entertainer, too, easily talking with the audience and taking requests in between switching from surprisingly good vocals, to punchy trumpet, even throwing in some street-vibe harmonica.