Michael O’Neill Quartet with Kenny Washington

Sunday, August 14, 2011 | Magnolia San Jose Rep Stage | 2pm

Michael O’Neill was influenced early on by jazz great John Guerin and Edward Fisher, principal clarinetist with the San Diego Symphony. After a stint in the Air Force Band, he entered college to study biology and music. After college, Michael began a career in biology and entered graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Insect Physiology at Texas A&M University. After two years, he decided to give it up and pursue a music full time. Upon returning to the Bay Area, he began studying with the great Joe Henderson, and became more involved with composition, forming groups to perform his original material. This trend continues with his quintet featuring Kenny Washington.

Kenny Washington is a jazz vocalist virtuoso. A native of New Orleans, Kenny grew up singing and performing gospel in church. He began performing with the school band, playing saxophone and singing. After graduating from high school Kenny continued his studies in Music at Xavier University. Emulating the classic styles of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn and infusing colors of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, Kenny's free, playful approach—with over a four-octave range—is awe inspiring. Like Michael, Kenny spent time playing music in the military, and he has also played and recorded in all of the Bay Area’s top venues. Kenny is the featured vocalist on Michael's CDs, The Long and the Short of It, and Still Dancin, recorded on Jazzmo records.

mosax.com
kennywashingtonvocalist.com