Johnny O’Neal
Johnny O’ Neal | Legendary pianist & singer
Saturday, September 26
2:30 to 3:15 PM
4:00 to 4:45 PM
Edwards Church
297 Main Street
FREE
Johnny O'Neal is a GRAMMY nominated pianist and vocalist, known for his soulfully swinging, humorous, and emotionally relatable performances. His Trio takes a seasonal style of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and his rhythm section alumni are footholds in music today.
O'Neal began in the music world early on as a prodigious young teenager winning the 2nd Annual James Cleveland youth gospel piano competition in Kansas City. He would be discovered by bassist Ray Brown who facilitated O'Neal's first album. In coming years he would tour with Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, Buddy DeFranco, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Carmen McRae and many more. In 1988, O'Neal's album "Soulful Swinging" was nominated for a GRAMMY for best jazz album.
Since his 2010 return to New York via Alabama and Detroit, Mr. O'Neal appeared on the silver screen, at piano legend Oscar Peterson's recommendation, to portray Art Tatum alongside Jamie Foxx in the Ray Charles biopic "Ray."
In 2025 Mr. O'Neal was awarded a Jazz Legacy Fellowship from the Jazz Foundation of America.
Featuring Joey Ranieri on bass and Itay Marchi on drums.
“Johnny O'Neal is the absolute greatest of all time. I mean I've never quite like a separation of the brain like that where he can comp for himself when he's singing and it sounds like it's two different people. Yeah, definitely one of my favorite of all time.”
— Roy Hargrove