Johnny O’Neal
1:30–2:30PM, Mack Avenue Records Pyramid Stage
The Detroit Jazz Fest is proud to present 2010 Guardian of Jazz recipient Johnny O’Neal. The enormous musical gifts of this Detroit-born pianist and vocalist were immediately apparent to jazz icon Ray Brown and led to Johnny’s 1983 debut album Coming Out. Stints with Ray Brown, Milt Jackson, and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers soon followed. He has also appeared with Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Pass, Nancy Wilson, Anita O’Day, Lionel Hampton, Kenny Burrell, Sonny Stitt, Benny Golson, Eddie Lockjaw Davis and Clark Terry among others. Other career highlights include an appearance at Carnegie Hall early (in his career) as the opening solo pianist for Oscar Peterson, his 1998 induction into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and playing the role of Art Tatum in the Academy award-winning film Ray. O'Neal is joined by Marion Hayden (bass) and Sean Dobbins (drums).
