An emphasis on Mo’

The “mo’ ” in “Three Mo’ Tenors” is your first hint – these are not your average, European opera-style Three Tenors.

James Berger, Duane A. Moody and Sean T. Miller take the Three Tenors formula and give it more soul, more jazz and more blues.

Yet they also sing opera and Broadway, because “Three Mo’ Tenors” is a concert-style showcase for what the producers call “the extraordinary versatility of African-American tenors.”

They also tackle gospel, spirituals and Old School. If you don’t know what Old School is, well, you’ll be schooled at this concert. (Hint: The “Old School Medley” contains songs like “My Girl” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.”)

Even the singers themselves had to learn how to appreciate the huge diversity of styles in this show.

“I’m trained as a classical opera singer and before I came to this project I didn’t think much of those other styles of music,” said Miller. “But I have been able to develop a new appreciation for them now.”

The first half of the concert features the Spokane Symphony, conducted by associate conductor Morihiko Nakahara, doing “Mardi Gras” from Grofe’s “Mississippi Suite,” a Duke Ellington medley and the “Castle House Rag.”

Then the tenors will take the stage and embark on a journey through about 400 years of musical styles.

The show will begin with pieces from Verdi’s “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto” and Donizetti’s “L’Elizir d’Amore.”

After that they’ll move through such diverse fare as “Maria” from “West Side Story”; “Minnie the Moocher” by Cab Calloway; a Ray Charles medley including “Hit the Road, Jack” and “Georgia on My Mind”; and a gospel medley including “Let the Praise Begin” and “It’s Time to Be Blessed.”

They’ll also perform some numbers from Broadway shows such as “Jelly’s Last Jam,” “Five Guys Named Moe” and “Ragtime.”

“Three Mo’ Tenors” is the brainchild of Marion J. Caffey, director and choreographer, who took one listen to the original Three Tenors (Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras) and realized that there was an opening to do a similar show with singers who could perform more contemporary material.

“Where else can you hear Usher, Pavarotti, Sondheim and Marvin Gaye come out of the same vocal cords?” Caffey has been quoted as saying.

Miller is an accomplished operatic tenor who has appeared with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Glimmerglass Opera, Portland Opera and dozens of others.

He came to the “Three Mo’ Tenors” show in 2006 and just finished as a member of the two casts in the off-Broadway run in New York.

“It’s very demanding vocally,” said Miller. “That’s why we have two casts –it’s impossible to sing this show eight times a week.”

Berger was a member of the Washington National Opera at age 21 and has toured with Domingo. Moody is in demand for classical recitals and has starred all over the world in productions of “Porgy and Bess.”

Both also were part of the New York cast of “Three Mo’ Tenors.”