Michael O’Neill – Kenny Washington Sextet

Kenny Washington, a native of New Orleans, is one of the Bay Area's secret musical treasures. He was a featured vocalist on the Pacific Mambo Orchestra's 2014 Grammy-winning album, and JazzTimes has called him, “one of the finest male jazz singers in the world.” His musical partner, saxophonist Michael O'Neill—a former student of Joe Henderson—has been collaborating with Kenny on recordings and performances for the past decade. O'Neill's brilliantly crafted arrangements, specifically tailored to Washington's soulful vocals, are played by a top-notch band of Bay Area musicians consisting of trumpeter Erik Jekabson, pianist John R. Burr, bassist Dan Feiszli, and drummer Alan Hall. O’Neill and Washington's latest recording New Beginnings received a coveted four-star rating from DownBeat.