Jazz Articles about Johnny O'Neal

Johnny O'Neal: Everybody Loves Johnny O'Neal

by Pierre Giroux
June 4, 2025

In the pantheon of jazz pianists and entertainers, Johnny O'Neal occupies a special niche--equal parts master technician, soulful interpreter, and irrepressible entertainer. Everybody Loves Johnny O'Neal, recorded live at Pyatt Hall, Vancouver, BC, captures the pianist and vocalist at his most relaxed and radiant. The date finds O'Neal in the company of two exceptional rhythm players -bassist Luke Sellick and drummer Itay Morchi, who anticipate his every move, no matter how sudden the detour. The set ...

Johnny O'Neal, Somi, The Ostara Project, Blossom Dearie and More

by Jua Howard
May 6, 2025

Greetings Music Family! It's finally time for another episode of the “First Instrument Jazz Show"! I've got new music from Johnny O'Neal, The Ostara Project, Hard Bop Messengers and Kurt Elling; and more timeless music from Nancy Wilson, Somi, Blossom Dearie, Bilal, The RH Factor and many more. Come get lost in the music with me! Playlist Intro 00:00 Benny Benack III “I Only Have Eyes for You" from One of a Kind (La Reserve) 2:36 Atlantic Jazz ...

23rd Punta Del Este Jazz Festival In Uruguay (Third Night)

by Pablo Reyes
January 26, 2019

For its third night on Saturday, January 5, the 23rd Punta del Este Jazz Festival in Uruguay featured Johnny O'Neal's trío with an homage to Joe Williams. The trio of bassist Mark Lewandowski, drummer Itay Morchi, and pianist/singer O'Neal also welcomed special guest Grant Stewart on tenor saxophone. Pianist Benny Green's trio with bassist David Wong and drummer Aaron Kimmel also performed that evening. The Al Foster quartet with Adam Birnbaum on piano, Doug Weiss on bass, Chris Potter on ...

Johnny O'Neal: Live at Smalls

by Angelo Leonardi
June 13, 2014

La vicenda del pianista Johnny O'Neal ricorda quella dei molti jazzmen usciti repentinamente di scena e in qualche caso riscoperti in età avanzata. Il suo caso non ha avuto la risonanza che ebbe il ritorno di Henry Grimes un decennio fa ma ha catalizzato comunque l'attenzione degli appassionati. Gran parte del merito va a Spike Wilner, il proprietario dello Smalls di New York, che ha più volte ospitato il pianista nel suo club, facendogli anche incidere questo lavoro ...

Tight: Johnny O'Neal Trio in Concert

by Samuel Chell
March 3, 2007

Johnny O'Neal Trio Tight BoJazz Productions 2006

“It don't mean a thing..." If Duke Ellington's criterion for meaning were to be strictly enforced, most of the sounds that pass for music wouldn't rise above nihilism. Pianist Johnny O'Neal knows the difference between “keeping time" and “swing," which is as much a visceral, sensuous experience as a state of mind. Moreover, the experience of freedom that's shared by musicians and listeners alike when the music ...