Music
Good hands
Johnny O'Neal's career gets a second wind
Ara Howrani
O'Neal with bassist Marion Hayden, who praises him as a walking history of the music. The music was handed to him personally by greats like Ray Brown, Milt Jackson and Art Blakey.
Published: October 13, 2010
To O'Neal, it feels as if his career has gotten a second wind. A-list jazz musicians such as trumpeters Roy Hargrove and Sean Jones show up at O'Neal's gig to sit in. And when he isn't wowing audiences, he's giving private lessons to a select group of budding pianists.
He's taken his newfound popularity in stride, pointing out that most jazz musicians don't get their props until they hit 50. Having just turned 54 on Sunday, he's pretty much on schedule.
Johnny O'Neal plays Wednesday-Saturday, Oct. 13-16, at the Dirty Dog Jazz Café, 97 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-882-5299.
> Email Charles L. Latimer
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