Twenty-two-year-old twins Jeremiah and John III are about to finish college but they already got a jump-start on their musical careers. Taking the best from jazz, R&B and soul, The Moore Twins are bringing a hip, fresh sound to “old school” tunes. It’s out of love and respect.
But don’t expect them to sound indistinguishable from one another. Says John, “We’re twins, not clones.”
They bring their own special sauce to the guitar (Jeremiah) and piano (John), and they both lay down some smooth harmonizing on vocals.
When did you start playing together?
We first played a piano duet together when we were nine or ten years old at a talent show at school.
Do you come from a musical family?
Jeremiah – We grew up listening to a wide variety of good music that our parents would play around the house. They would also sing with us growing up.
John – Yes, both my mother and father sing. In fact, they met in a Chicago-area mass choir. Also, my Father use to DJ when he was in college.
Do you work with family members?
Yes. Our company, Moore4More Productions, is a family-owned entertainment management and production company.
When did each of you decide on your respective instruments?
John – I decided that I wanted to learn how to play the piano professionally at the age of 13. I remember listening to songs and imagining playing them for large audiences all across the world.
Jeremiah – Actually, I started playing the nylon and electric guitars. When I was 14 years old, my father purchased a bass guitar, with the intent of learning how to play it. However, I asked him if I could borrow it and the rest was history.
Do you compose?
John – Yes, my brother and I started composing and arranging about four years ago. In 2015 we wrote, arranged and co-produced our first two recorded songs, “Northern Hospitality” and “Strollin’” on our EP “Bass-Line and Keys.”
Jeremiah – We are currently recording tracks for our first full album, where we will be working with the multi-platinum-album-selling producer and artist Jaee Logan.
Why do you gravitate to jazz/R&B/soul?
Jeremiah – These genres have always been very complex, melodic and soothing and have really inspired us to try to add our own little twist. However, we always want to make sure that we maintain the integrity of each one of these areas of music.
John – They are the most challenging genres to me. I enjoy the musicality of older music.
Who are your favorite artists?
John – Cory Henry, Stevie Wonder and Oscar Peterson.
Jeremiah – Adam Blackstone, James Jameson, Jamareo Artis and Andrew Gouche.
Talk about “Bassline and Keys”- what inspired it?
Jeremiah – We both wanted to put out some original material to see how people would receive our music. Both songs on that EP have been received quite well.
John – We were born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Alabama when we were 12 years old. We wanted to dedicate our first two recorded songs to our memories of “Sweet Home Chicago.”
Talk about your favorite track on it.
John – “Northern Hospitality,” because I enjoy the upbeat jazz aspect of the song.
Jeremiah – Same here. I also enjoy the solo exchanges between me and my brother on this song.
Is that your first CD?
Jeremiah – It’s our first EP. Our CD will be releasing sometime soon.
Have you toured?
John – We have not toured yet. However, we’re looking forward to beginning our touring experience after we graduate from college in December of 2017.
Jeremiah –We’re working on some touring dates for 2018.
Favorite venue so far in your career?
The J.C. Handy Jazz Festival in Florence, Alabama.
Do you have a vocalist?
Jeremiah – Not at full-fledged lead vocalist.
John – However, my brother and I will be singing background vocals, along with our producer Jaee Logan, on a few of the songs from our upcoming CD.
A lot of people may not realize this, but Jaee was the first vocal coach for the R&B group En Vogue.
How do you reconcile different creative opinions?
John – We usually just sit down at our instruments and start brainstorming different concepts and figure out how to transition them into full arrangements.
Jeremiah – We very rarely have conflicts when it comes to creative ideas, because we both respect what the other party brings to the table artistically. I guess it must be that ‘Twin Thing.’
What are your individual styles and goals for the music?
John – To continue to create our own unique sound, which comes from not being afraid to expand our musical horizons.
Jeremiah – We also want to continue pursuing our trend of taking ‘grown-folk music’ and adding a contemporary touch to it, while still respecting the integrity of the music.
“What You Won’t Do” is an iconic song. Talk about what you like about it.
John – It’s one of my father’s favorite songs also. He introduced it to us a number of years ago. I enjoy the smooth arrangements of this song. I really like the baseline that my brother laid down during our remake of this classic tune.
What’s the biggest challenge about being artists who are related?
Jeremiah – When you’re working with another person, you can’t help but lose some degree of your individuality. This is especially the case if you are an identical twin.
John – I guess many times people make the mistake of confusing being a twin with being a clone. LOL
Where would you most like to perform within your home state of Illinois?
John – The United Center in my hometown of Chicago.
Jeremiah – Same here, so that we can perform in front of all of our family and friends and invite some of our outstanding musician friends in Chicago to be a part of our show.
Where throughout the world would you most like to perform?
Jeremiah – Los Angeles, CA, and Tokyo, Japan.
John – I would love to perform in Madison Square Garden and Dubai.
Current projects in the works now?
Jeremiah – Yes, a new smooth jazz CD that we’re working on with our music producer, executive producer, vocal arranger, and and background vocalist Jaee Logan.
John – We also have a few other smooth jazz projects that we will be working on in 2018, in addition to some projects in other musical genres that will help to display our musical versatility.
Other comments?
Jeremiah – First and foremost my brother and I would like to thank God for blessing us with our musical gifts and making all of this possible. We also like to thank our parents, John S. Moore Jr. and April Moore, for all of their love and believing in us. We would also like to thank the rest of our family, friends and fans for all of their encouragement and support.
John – I am looking forward to what the future holds for my brother and I, in terms of our musical careers. Our short-term goals include graduating from the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama this December. Afterwards, we plan on touring, both nationally and internationally. Our long-term goal is to produce and manage other musical artists, in addition to working on and releasing more of our own music.
Photo courtesy of and with permission of the artists.
© Debbie Burke 2017
Debbie Burke - jazz author 
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