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Harold O'Neal

For Harold O’Neal, the emphasis is on the experience of the music, rather than the genre. “Through my compositions and improvisations, most important to me is the hope to expand the sonic awareness of my listeners and bring about a shared sense interconnection. At the end of each piece, I want to leave them with the impression that we have travelled together, and that they each have been an integral participant on this spontaneous journey.” Indeed, audiences who have the pleasure of hearing Harold’s unique improvisatory impressionism performed live routinely find themselves drawn into a marvelous fantasy. Born in Arusha, Tanzania to an American father and a Tanzanian mother, O’Neal moved to Kansas City, Missouri at the age of three. There, despite being immersed in the rich blues and jazz traditions of his neighborhood, the 18th and Vine District, it was not the solos of Charlie Parker, but the impressionist compositions of Franz Liszt that sparked his interest in the piano at the age of 14. He began studying jazz at the Paseo Academy of Performing Arts, where he first caught the attention of his future mentor, the legendary saxophonist, Bobby Watson. O’Neal later went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music where he became the protégé of the jazz piano great Andrew Hill. Andrew Hill (himself a former student of the 20th century composer Paul Hindemith) majorly influenced Harold’s current compositions, “from him I learned the importance of letting things develop naturally and being able to find the middle ground anywhere... of feeling free to push the envelope structurally and rhythmically, but being able to maintain the melody and the feeling of being ‘in time’ while doing this.” O’Neal has toured extensively throughout the world and has performed and recorded with artists such as: Greg Osby, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Roy Hargrove, Avishai Cohen, Bobby Watson, Carmen Lundy, Nicholas Payton, Wynton Marsalis, Ski Beatz, Murs, and Jerry Wonda. Last June, he had the honor of playing for Amnesty International and Bono’s Electric Burma concert, celebrating Burmese activist Aung Sang Su Kyi, where he performed with Lupe Fiasco, Angelique Kidjo, Bob Geldof, Damien Rice, and U2. Harold O’Neal has two records available through Smalls Recordings (Whirling Mantis and Marvelous Fantasy) that have each garnered great critical acclaim in the international press. Ben Ratliff of the New York Times has stated Marvelous Fantasy, “the strange and gorgeous whole of it, sits somewhere between Ravel’s ‘Miroirs’ and Duke Ellington’s great 1953 album Piano Reflections...the album is a piece of work that seems to be out there on its own.

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Radio & Podcasts

Harold O'Neal, Dexter Gordon, Joe Pass and More

Read "Harold O'Neal, Dexter Gordon, Joe Pass and More" reviewed by Joe Dimino


The 639th episode of Neon Jazz begins with pianist Harold O'Neal. He has deep Kansas City roots and shows off his further evolution with his new CD Once Upon a Time. We profile the new Kansas City group Purna Loka Ensemble with Bassist Jeff Harshbarger. Finally, we play new music from New York City saxophonist Mike Casey. Playlist Harold O'Neal “Agent M" Once Upon a Time (Piano Cinema) 00:00 Host talks 4:22 Pat Metheny Group “First Circle (Live)" ...

1
Album Review

Harold O'Neal: Piano Cinema

Read "Piano Cinema" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Harold O' Neal è un pianista singolare. Quest'album in solo ripropone lo stile ricercato, intriso di riferimenti all'impressionismo francese e alle radici del jazz, che aveva presentato nel 2011 in Marvelous Fantasy. Durante gli studi al Berklee College e alla Manhattan School Of Music, la sua storia musicale è segnata dal sodalizio con Bobby Watson (2001) e poi con Andrew Hill (2002). Quest'ultimo lo raccomandò a Greg Osby nel cui quartetto Harold ha debuttato a 21 anni incidendo St. Louis ...

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Radio & Podcasts

A Conversation with Harold O'Neal

Read "A Conversation with Harold O'Neal" reviewed by Lorens Chuno


Harold O'neal's latest release, the solo piano album titled Piano Cinema, is a distinctively curated collection of songs that highlight Harold's excellent piano abilities while taking you on a subtle filmic journey. Join Harold and me as we talk about Beyonce, Ahmad Jamal, the sounds of film, and other unrelated but connected subjects. Playlist Harold O'neal “Scenes from a Dream" from Piano Cinema (Self-released) 00:00 Harold O'neal “Sam and Sam" from Piano Cinema (Self-released) 27:45 ...

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Recording

Pianist Extraordinaire Harold O'Neal Releases 'The Adventures Of Mr. Grey' On April 15th

Pianist Extraordinaire Harold O'Neal Releases 'The Adventures Of Mr. Grey' On April 15th

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Pianist, composer, and storyteller Harold O'Neal debuts a new and exciting project. The Adventures of Mr. Grey is a music and NFT collaboration with renowned illustrator and cartoonist, Thomas Deisboeck. Release date: April 15th. Label: Piano Cinema Music. Deisboeck’s eight illustrations have a 1920s art noir feel, which O’Neal first encountered in the music studio while the tape was rolling. “I didn't know what to expect," he says. “I wanted to experience the full potential of each illustration. And stay ...

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Performance / Tour

Harold O'Neal "Piano Cinema" Launch Event On July 6 In NYC - Free!

Harold O'Neal  "Piano Cinema" Launch Event On July 6 In NYC - Free!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Harold O'Neal's “Piano Cinema" Hudson Yards NYC Free with RSVP Only Album Launch Event Date: Friday, July 6th from 7-9pm Location: SAP Leonardo 10 Hudson Yards, Floor 48 New York, NY 10001 Attire: Smart Casual Admission: Free with RSVP only RSVP Now About Piano Cinema Piano Cinema is the second solo piano release for Harold O'Neal. He says it is his statement of a signature piano style that ...

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Recording

Harold O'Neal Releases A Solo Masterpiece - "Piano Cinema"

Harold O'Neal Releases A Solo Masterpiece - "Piano Cinema"

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Piano Cinema is the second solo piano release for Harold O'Neal. He says it is his statement of a signature piano style that he calls by the same name. Release date is May 14, 2018. “Piano Cinema is how I describe my genre of music. It's equally a balance of improvisations and well thought-out compositions. Some pieces were composed and constantly reworked. While others, like 'The Magic Hour', were completely improvised. My goal is to share this vision with the ...

"[Marvelous Fantasy] the strange and gorgeous whole of it, sits somewhere between Ravel’s ‘Miroirs’ and Duke Ellington’s great 1953 album Piano Reflections."- Ben Ratliff, New York Times

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Adventures of Mr....

Piano Cinema Music
2022

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Piano Cinema

Omomuki Foundation
2018

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Marvelous Fantasy

Smalls Records
2011

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Videos

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