What defines a legend? In musical communities such as jazz, it often points to once-in-a-generation virtuosos, groundbreaking composers, prolific bandleaders. People who move the needle through a combination of their artistry and their place and time in history. Then, there are those that are beloved in their communities, whom the public may be slower to acknowledge or bestow the title of “legend”. In millennial terms: only those who know, know.

Johnny O’Neal certainly stands as such a figure. There is no questioning his virtuosity—when you watch him perform, it’s like he embodies jazz completely. He doesn’t swing, he is swing. Largely a self-taught musician, O’Neal’s talent wasn't born out of school. He did all his studying as “on the job” training, so to speak, actively performing in clubs when he was younger and being picked up by the likes of Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakey.

Now, 50 years later, O’Neal carries on this tradition of identifying and nurturing young talent. A fixture in the New York jazz scene, he still frequently hits the jazz clubs to perform with up-and-coming musicians, uplifting them in the same way he was in the early days of his career. He took some of this very talent with him to Singapore, namely guitarist Raphael Silverman, bassist Joey Ranieri and drummer Itay Morchi. The good-natured teasing and heckling were signs of how comfortable they were with the veteran—testament to the community and camaraderie that he has built, beyond his accolades and years. The quartet’s chemistry was reflected at their sold-out shows for Jazz in July, and Cargo Lift Sessions, where they brought a slice of New York city right into the cargo lift.

Audio: Andrew Lim
Video: Lee Jing Wei

Special thanks to Lotto Carpets Gallery for the loan of the carpet.