Piedmont Piano Company is pleased to present an evening of vocal jazz
Michael O'Neill with Kenny Washington

with Erik Jekabson - trumpet, John R. Burr - piano,
Lorca Hart - drums, Dan Feiszli - bass

Sunday, August 5 at 4PM
at Piedmont Piano Company's new store located at
18th & San Pablo, Oakland (1728 San Pablo Ave.)

$15 - Please call 510-547-8188 to reserve tickets with your credit card

Michael O’Neill currently performs weekly with his quartet at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Half Moon Bay where he is frequently joined by Kenny. Michael has performed and/or recorded with Idris Muhammad, Joe Locke, Michael Wolff, Giacomo Gates, Rodney Jones, Kim Nalley, Jackie Ryan, Tony Lindsay, Margie Baker, Akira Tana, Faye Carol, Brenda Boykin, Nicolas Bearde, Smith Dobson, and many others. There are two major recordings featuring Michael and Kenny which are: The Long and the Short of It by the Michael O’Neill Quintet featuring Kenny Washington, and Still Dancin’ by the Michael O’Neill Quintet featuring Kenny Washington with special guest Joe Locke.

Over the last thirteen years Kenny and Michael have developed a rare simpatico that characterizes their musical collaboration. Each performance features a balanced mix of standards and Michael’s compositions, complemented by Kenny’s vocalizations.

They will be presenting a brand new set of arrangements and original vocal tunes - specifically crafted as settings for Kenny's amazing voice - written by Michael and pianist John R. Burr that they have been honing for an upcoming recording. Recent performances of this material at Yoshi's/Oakland, the Ritz-Carlton/Half Moon Bay and the Second Saturday Salon (house concert) have been received with rave responses.

Recently dubbed “the Superman of the Bay Area jazz scene” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Kenny Washington is a jazz virtuoso who thrills audiences with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and rapid-fire scatting. Ravi Coltrane has declared Kenny his favorite male vocalist, and Mark Murphy said in a Jazz Times interview that Kenny was the only contemporary male vocalist carrying on the tradition. Kenny has performed and/or recorded with Louie Bellson, Wycleff Gordon, Jon Hendricks, Elvis Costello, Joel Harrison, Jason and Delfeayo Marsalis, Joe Locke, Geoffery Keezer, George Mraz  Clarence Penn, the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, The Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, the Slammin’ All Body Band and The Michael O’Neill Quintet to name a few.

Rounding out the group will be Jason Lewis on drums and bassist, Dan Feiszli.