Michael O’Neill, a mainstay on the San Francisco Bay Area jazz scene, began studying clarinet at age 10. One of his first influences was his neighbor, the great jazz and studio drummer John Guerin who helped Michael with his first jazz band in Junior High School. Growing up in San Diego, he also participated in school bands and orchestras. After a stint in the Air Force Band, he entered college as a biology major with a music minor, studying composition, arranging and jazz performance, all while playing jazz clubs in the evenings..
He has had several high-profile gigs including a 13 year engagement at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, a 7 year stint at Cetrella on the coast, and a 6 year steady gig at the Sofitel on the San Francisco peninsula. He has played and/or recorded with Idris Muhammad, Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer, Michael Wolff, Rodney Jones, Kenny Washington, Jackie Ryan, Tony Lindsay, Akira Tana, Michael Bluestein, Nicolas Bearde, Smith Dobson, and many others. He performs frequently at all the major venues in the Bay Area.
Michael has teamed up with an amazing band to produce a new CD Synergy
Michael O’Neill, tenor & soprano saxophones/bass clarinet; Tony Lindsay, vocals; John R. Burr, piano; Dan Feiszli, bass; Jason Lewis, drums; Omar Ledezma, percussion; Erik Jekabson, trumpet/ flugelhorn.
Review of the New CD
Tony Lindsay has one of those rich, full, warm voices that intoxicates as soon as you hear him sing. He is an 11-time Grammy winning vocalist, legendary for his long tenure with the popular Santana group. As Michael O’Neill and Erik Jekabson lay down a strong, harmonic horn groove, O’Neill’s voice floats above them, warm as sunshine. He draws us into this Latin-tinged arrangement of the popular Bill Withers tune, “A Lovely Day.” John R Burr takes a spirited solo on piano, followed by Erik Jekabson’s power-packed trumpet improvisation. Michael O’Neill dances into the spotlight on soprano saxophone and the band gives the drummers some space to shine. Percussionist Omar Ledezma shows off his percussive skills, locking in with the drums of Jason Lewis. This is a great, energetic way to start Michael O’Neill’s Sextet album.