Alasdair Fraser In The Moment

While every great jazz musician knows the value of spontaneity, few understand the true value of being in the moment quite like Johnny O’Neal. A rising star in the early 1980s, O’Neal left New York after a mugging in 1986. Performing and recording in Atlanta, St. Louis, Montreal and his native Detroit, he experienced another setback after he was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1998. Since returning to New York in 2010, however, both his life and his health have been on an upswing, cementing that long-promised star status at the age of 60. His new album, In the Moment, is his most vivid recording to date, fully capturing the elegant pianism and emotionally gripping voice that have made him such a beloved fixture on the NYC jazz scene ever since his unparalleled comeback.

Drummer/producer Makaya McCraven brings together "future-is-now drumming” with his roots in jazz and world music to form his unique and powerful sound. Regarded as “one of Chicago’s most versatile and in demand drummers” (Chicago Reader) and described by Downbeat Magazine as “exceptional on the drums,” Makaya McCraven moves between genres at lightning speed. "In The Moment" is nearly 48 hours of live improvised performance recorded at 1 venue over 12 months and 28 shows - culled, cut, rendered, and remixed into 19 potent pieces of organic beat music. This is music made by a 21st century man who sees no need to suppress his hip hop chops or rock spirit in an effort to fit in and be dubbed a jazz drummer.

This new release ranges from blues to straight-ahead to post-bop to pop tunes to ballads, each one fully explored and deftly illuminated by O’Neal and his electrifying bandmates, bassist Ben Rubens and drummer Itay Morchi. Unlike most of his past recordings, it shows off several of O’Neal’s own compositions, some of which date back more than 20 years but have never been recorded. This is Johnny O’Neal's first studio album in 15 Years! Iconic Pianist/Vocalist overcomes struggle by choosing to embrace every precious moment. This performance features Roy Hargrove and Grant Stewart as special guests.

Impromptu shows leaders how to think on their feet and respond eloquently in every situation. Never have there been so many opportunities to inspire and influence in everyday situations - elevator chats, corridor conversations, networking gatherings, meetings, and ceremonial events. Indeed, today the most iconic leadership moments are spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment events that reveal the inner workings of the leader's mind. When these impromptu opportunities arise, leaders must be able to listen, think, and respond within seconds.

Jocelyn Bernadette Smith is an American jazz vocalist. She was born in Queens, New York in 1960. Around the turn of century she worked on projects with classical orchestras, most notably with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 2001. However, jazz and popular music still hold her attention and in 2003 Jocelyn B. Smith received an IFPI Jazz award. "In The Moment" is her live interpretation of famous Jazz/Soul/Pop/Folk songs.