Now's the Time: Harold O'Neal

Does Harold O'Neal represent the future of jazz in Kansas City? Area jazz fans should be so lucky. The original composition O'Neal performs in this video is dedicated to innovative pianist Andrew Hill, who died in April. As with Hill, O'Neal deftly balances outside explorations with the post-Art Tatum tradition. O'Neal works frequently in Kansas City and New York, and is a pianist in one of Bobby Watson's touring ensembles. O'Neal's debut recording as a leader, Charlie's Suite, is reviewed positively here. His MySpace account is slightly less buggy that his own site. I also highly recommend the three free downloads recorded at Denver's KGNU.