Faces & Names: Duluth musician performs with Jeans ’n Classics

• Greg Kehl Moore

Greg Kehl Moore, an associate professor of music and jazz program director at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, was invited to jam with Jeans ’n Classics during the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra’s pops concert on Saturday.

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Greg Kehl Moore had what he is calling a career highlight on Saturday when the saxophonist got to jam with Jeans ’n Classics during the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra’s pops concert “Endless Summer: An Evening of Beach Boy Favorites.”

“It was a total blast,” said Moore, an associate professor of music and jazz program director at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. “I think that up to this point, I’ve been in the Twin Ports since 1997, this was one of my professional highlights so far. It was so much fun.”

Moore is a member of the DSSO, though he just plays with them when they occasionally need a saxophone player. When Jeans ’n Classics called the DSSO offices looking for a substitute sax player for their Duluth show, Moore got the nod. The emcee for Saturday’s program at Symphony Hall joked that Moore had auditioned to fill in earlier in the day, but really he had a few weeks to prepare. He also had some life experience he could draw from.

“I grew up playing rock ’n’ roll,” Moore said. “I’m very comfortable on stage. There was a combination of things going on: I was enjoying playing in that setting, the audience enjoyed seeing the local musician sitting in with the out-of-towners getting all of the solos. I had that advantage. I think the orchestra was having fun seeing me sort of fronting the thing and having a good time.”

And the crew from Jeans ’n Classics:

“We got along famously,” he said.

Moore, who said he thinks Brian Wilson is a genius, said his favorite part of the show was during “Dance, Dance, Dance” when his wireless microphone allowed him to roam during his extended solo. He wandered over to where the singers were performing and jammed with them.

“I don’t think they were expecting it,” he said. “They were surprised.”

You can catch Moore in action again this week: He is playing as part of a jazz quintet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at UWS’ Yellowjacket Union. He plays with his rock band Circuit Breakers on Friday and Saturday night at the Powerhouse Bar in Proctor. And, for the super-est of super groupies: Two of his students — Gabrielle Anderson, saxophone, Ian Deterling, composition, are splitting time on a student recital at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Webb Recital Hall in the Holden Fine Arts building.

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