Everybody Loves Johnny O'Neal Johnny O'Neal

• 1 Chicago 10:55
• 2 Love Letters 06:05
• 3 Home Boy Blues 06:57
• 4 Come Sunday / Did I Ever Really Live 07:02
• 5 Destination Moon 04:22
• 6 Tight 06:37
• 7 Where or When 06:32
• 8 The More I See You 04:40
• Total Runtime 53:10

Info for Everybody Loves Johnny O'Neal

Johnny O'Neal is a rare old school talent – both a singer and pianist, and one who hangs in that special place between jazz and blues that marked the important work on the west coast scene during the postwar years! Not that Johnny's any sort of retro performer – just that he's got the compelling charms of great like Nat King Cole or Charles Brown, but tuned towards a much more contemporary idiom – as he works here with Luke Sellick on bass and Itay Morchi on drums.

I initially planned to start these notes by stating that much has been written about the enigmatic, mysterious, and quirky Johnny O’Neal. However, as I reflected on those words, a contrary thought struck me: not nearly enough has been written about the immensely talented and gifted Johnny O’Neal. He’s one of those musicians that deserves more recognition than he gets, both as a singer and a pianist. In addition to that, he is one of THE finest entertainers in the business. There is not enough room in this package to expound on the virtues of Johnny O’Neal so I will keep these words brief.

This concert captures a fleeting moment in time during a jazz festival performance in Vancouver, BC, Canada, in 2018. It’s immediately apparent how comfortable the trio is and how deeply in sync Itay and Luke are with their leader. Sharp turns and quick shifts in direction demand that the bass and drum duo stays constantly alert and ready to adapt. They handle Johnny’s twists and turns brilliantly, all while continuing to swing mightily.

In my humble opinion, Johnny O’Neal is best represented on recordings made live in front of an audience. This isn’t to say that his studio albums fall short—they most certainly do not. But, the spontaneous, freewheeling, and unpredictable essence of Johnny O’Neal can sometimes feel confined within the studio setting. He truly thrives in front of an audience, feeding off their energy. And while live performances inherently invite imperfections, O’Neal’s imperfections are, well, perfect. Whether it’s a minor coughing fit, a forgotten lyric, or an improvised reaction to something he hears or feels, his playing is always swinging, always supremely musical, and always brings a smile to your face.

For this particular concert, Johnny had no idea it was being recorded, which makes everything that was happening seem more organic. Maybe if he knew it was being recorded, he would’ve done some things differently and, again in my humble opinion, the performance would have been compromised. Instead, we got a full-on show—no holds barred, fun, unencumbered, and including all the previously mentioned perfect imperfections.

Johnny O’Neal is a treasure, and this recording captures him at his finest. I’m so thrilled to be able to present this music to you. (Cory Weeds)

Johnny O’Neal, vocals, piano
Luke Sellick, bass
Itay Morchi, drums

Johnny O'Neal
is a GRAMMY nominated world-renowned pianist and vocalist, known for his soulful, personable, and even humorous performances and virtuosic improvisations. His concerts regularly feature many styles, from jazz and traditional blues to pop, R&B and occasionally gospel music too. He has performed or recorded with Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, Anita O'Day, Carmen McCrae, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Clark Terry, Stan Getz, Sonny Stitt, and many more.

O'Neal started making a splash 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 was later discovered by bassist Ray Brown who facilitated O'Neal's first album. Over the coming years he would tour with artists including Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, and Carmen McRae. He also toured as lead singer with Ray Charles' band following Mr. Charles' transition. In 1988 his album "Soulful Swinging" was nominated for a GRAMMY for best jazz album.

O'Neal continues to make waves in the modern era. He played the part of Art Tatum (at the recommendation of Oscar Peterson) in the 2005 Oscar-winning film "Ray," performed and recorded with artists such as Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Harry Connick Jr., and Ron Carter. He is known to perform in Europe, China, South America, Canada, and all across the United States.

This album contains no booklet.