With being compared to Duke Ellington and Maurice Ravel by The New York Times, Harold O'Neal FRSA, (producer, social entrepreneur, and storyteller) has marked his place amongst this generation's greatest pianists and composers. He has worked and collaborated with artists in a variety of genres (U2, Bob Geldof, Damien Rice, Aloe Blacc, Ne-Yo, Angelique Kidjo, Jay Z). In 2019, O'Neal was awarded fellowship in the Royal Society of the Arts, with the patron being Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

"A piece of work that seems to be out there on its own. I have an idea where the music comes from, but I’m not hearing it anywhere else." 

BEN RATLIFF, The New York Times

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Harold has shared his voice as a speaker, social entrepreneur, and storyteller with the world's leading platforms including TWIN Global, TEDx, SAP, Google Cubed,

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, C2 Montreal, Hatch Experience, PowerShift, and has been profiled by Fortune, Forbes, The New York Times, and the 92nd St Y: 7 Days Of Genius series. Harold’s unique voice in storytelling is a musical statement to the world. A story born from many profound life experiences.

"His solo piano recordings merit a special identity. They’ve got the quiver and shading of great Romantic piano, with Duke Ellington’s panoramic blues folded in." 

GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO, The New York Times

VIDEOS

HAROLD O'NEAL:

"PIANO CINEMA"

JAY Z:
FOREVER YOUNG

92Y: 7 DAYS OF GENIUS

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HBO: BOARDWALK EMPIRE

TEDX MONTREAL

HAROLD O'NEAL:

"MARVELOUS FANTASY"

HAROLD O’NEAL:
“MAN ON THE STREET”

U2: ELECTRIC BURMA

HAROLD O'NEAL:
THE LOVERS

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Harold O’Neal has the charmed life of a lauded musician, composer, actor and busy speaker focusing on the creative process. He’s performed with U2, Jay Z, and appeared as a piano playing hepcat on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.

But he tells a story of the night he nearly died, as a reminder to himself and others that the past only has the power to define you if you let it. ELLEN MCGIRT

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PRESS

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Harold O’Neal’s “Marvelous Fantasy” is a solo piano record in two ways. He plays his instrument unaccompanied, and the album is a piece of work that seems to be out there on its own. I have an idea where the music comes from, but I’m not hearing it anywhere else. BEN RATLIFF

My guest is Harold O'Neal. He's a kick boxer, a Rubik's cube champion, a B-boy dancer. Most importantly, he is a jazz pianist, and his new album is a collection of pieces for solo piano. It's called "Marvelous Fantasy." GUY RAZ

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A few hundred years ago, classical pianists would impress audiences by improvising cadenzas in the middle of a concerto — riffing, we would say today. Now improvisation is firmly in the realm of jazz. But a new record called Marvelous Fantasy explores the connection between jazz and classical improvisation. It’s by the 30-year-old jazz pianist Harold O’Neal. KURT ANDERSON

In other words, the record swings: a major plus for an unpretentious, accessible, this-is-who-I-am kind of record. On the other hand, “Whirling Mantis” comes with ideas, because Mr. O’Neal can write. BEN RATLIFF

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Harold O'Neal's Whirling Mantis is named for a defensive move in karate. The martial-arts reference suggests one way to look at how O'Neal's music operates: The players react to each other's moves, deflecting one another in stylized interaction. KEVIN WHITEHEAD

©2017 by Harold O'Neal