I was born in Arusha, Tanzania where I lived until the age of four when my family came home to Kansas City, my father’s birthplace. I began playing the piano at the age of 14 while a student at Paseo Performing Arts Academy. By the age of 16 I was working professionally as a musician. After graduating high school I went to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music. I continued my studies at the Manhattan School of Music and started touring with saxophonist Bobby Watson in 2001. Since then I’ve been trying to establish a name for myself in NYC and LA and points between. I have had the opportunity to play and perform with many jazz greats such as Elvin Jones, Kenny Burell, Joe Chambers, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Bobby Watson, Greg Osby, Jeff ‘Tain Watts, Wynton Marsalis, Bob Hurst, Eric Harland, Bobby Sanabria, Paquito D. Rivera, Richard Davis, Al Grey, Roy Hargrove, Vanessa Rubin, James Carter, Gary Bartz, Phil Upchurch, Marvin ‘Smitty Smith, Curtis & Carmen Lundy, and many others. In 2002, I was introduced to Greg Osby by jazz legend Andrew Hill. In 2003 I had my sideman recording debut on Greg Osby’s St. Louis Shoes (Blue Note). The outstanding line up for this album included Greg Osby on sax, Nicholas Peyton on trumpet, and Robert Hurst and Rodney Green on bass and drums. I have performed across the US, Europe and the Middle East. A partial list of venues and clubs where I’ve played includes the Village Vanguard, The Jazz Gallery, and Iridium in NYC, The John F. Kennedy Center and The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D. C., DIA in Detroit, and The Blue Room, The Folly Theater, and The Gem Theater in Kansas City. In 2004 I debuted the first incarnation of “The Harold ONeal Project” at The Jazz Gallery in NYC, which featured Bassist Matt Brewer, Greg Osby, and Jeff ‘Tain Watts. In 2006 I was fortunate enough to be one of twelve semi-finalists in the Thelonius Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. My playing and compositions will be featured on Bobby Watson’s new album scheduled to be released in late 2007 on Palmetto Records. I’m also very pleased to have a new compostion recorded and ready for release on PME records in the very near future. Check out the program notes for ‘Charlie’s Suite’ on this website, or go to PME Records to get some free downloads in the meantime.  Upcoming Shows 5/19/07 at 6:30PM-?, Baker's Piano Center, 2067 30th Street, Boulder, CO, tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.   5/26/07 at 6:30pm-?, AKKA-KarateUSA, 4030 Broadway, Kansas City, MO, tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. To hear about performances and recordings in the future, contact us at macdadaneo@gmail.commailto:macdadaneo@gmail.comshapeimage_2_link_0