-------------------Harold O'Neal was born in Arusha, Tanzania wher he lived until the age of three when he came 'home' to Kansas City, his father's birthplace. He began playing the piano at the age of 14 while a student at Paseo Performing Arts Academy. By the age of 16 he was working professionally as a musician. After graduating high school Harold went to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music. He continued his studies at the Manhattan School of Music studying with Kenny Baron and started touring with saxophonist Bobby Watson in 2001. Since then Harold has been establishing a name for himself in NYC and LA and points between having performed with many jazz greats such as Elvin Jones,Bob Hurst, Vanessa Rubin,Kenny Garrett,Richard Davis,Nicholas Payton, Joe Chambers, Carl Allen, Rodney Whitaker,Victor Lewis, Essiet Essiet,Gary Bartz, Paquito D'Rivera, Jimmy Heath, Roy Hargrove, Bobby Watson, Jeff'Tain Watts, Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, Greg Osby, Phil Upchurch, Marvin' Smitty Smith, Curtis & Carmen Lundy, and many others. His music has also brought him to perform a private memorial for Enis Cosby which was hosted by Bill Cosby and featured many celebrity guests.
In 2002, Harold was introduced to Greg Osby by jazz legend Andrew Hill. In 2003 came his sideman recording debut on Greg Osby's St. Louis Shoes(Blue Note). The outstanding line up for this album included Greg on sax, Nicholas Payton on trumpet, and Bob Hurst and Rodney Green on bass and drums. Harold recieved high critical praise for his contributions to the recording.Harold has performed across the US, Europe and the Middle East. A partial list of venues and clubs where Harold has performed includes the Village Vanguard in NYC, The John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Detroit Institute of the Arts in Detroit, The Blue Note in NY & The Smithsonian in D.C. . Harold is one of the leading instrumentalists and composers of his generation, also stretching to other fields.
In 2005, Harold debuted his group, the "Harold O'Neal Project" at the Jazz Gallery in NYC, wich featured Bassist Matt Brewer, Greg Osby, and Jeff 'Tain' Watts.
Harold has completed work on his first commissioned composition, Charlie's Suite, and is currently working on his second commission which is yet to be titled.
** Harold was featured in a documentary following the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. The event was hosted by Quincy Jones, Billy Dee Williams, and Phylicia Rashaad. Featuring artist Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, and many more! Documentary aired April 5th on BET **
----- Currently working with Bobby Watson's Voices of Tomorrow Band( Curtis Lundy-bass ,Quincy Davis-drums ,Warren Wolf-Vibes,Leron Thomas tpt).
------Discography- St. Louis Shoes-Greg Osby(blue note) Dirty Draws-Leron Thomas(Leron Thomas Music), Jafunk-Jafunk, Ahmad Aladeen-New Africa Suite(ASR), Ahmad Aladeen- And the Beauty of it All (ASR) Charlies Suite (PME),From the Heart-Bobby Watson(to be released on Palmetto)
