“Kevin McNeal always swings whether he is playing the traditional Bebop repertoire or his original compositions. His guitar sound is rich and full bodied and never disappoints. ”
— Rufus Reid, Jazz Bassist/Composer
Connect with Kevin
“Kevin is an outstanding guitarist -- one of the most confident, relaxed, musicians I’ve ever shared a stage with. Highly recommended!”
— Mark Galeo, Film & Music Consultant/Producer
About
Kevin McNeal: Jazz and Blues Guitarist, Composer, Arranger, Band Leader
Kevin is recognized throughout the US and Europe as an outstanding guitarist/performer and recording artist, as well as a composer, arranger, and educator.
Performance and recording credits include Jeff “Tain” Watts, Rufus Reid, David Liebman, James Williams, Royal Hartigan, Nick Brignola, Steve Swallow, Cecil Bridgewater, Ed Wiley Jr., Greg Osby, Skip Roberts with BluesWing, Piney Brown, Stanley Turrentine, Charles Fambrough, Hamiet Bluiett, Kevin Eubanks, Mike Stern, Geri Allen, Nasheet Waits, Victor Bailey, Debbie Sledge, Grachan Moncur III, and many others. Kevin also toured Europe with Leon Thomas as musical director.
Most recent recordings: ‘A Matter Of Time,’ ’Soliloquy', (solo guitar arrangements of jazz standards); ‘Wonderland’ and ‘Voice’, with Taeko; ‘About The Soul', with Ed Wiley Jr., and 'Theory and Practice' with Mike Gillispie
Kevin resides in New York City, where he has been playing the jazz scene for several decades and leads his own group BluesWing. He performed in the hit HBO series Boardwalk Empire, as well as other film and theater productions. He is currently recording a new CD with special guests including Bradford Marsalis, publishing a guitar instruction book called Chord Contours & Movements for Guitar. He is also a gifted music educator bringing jazz, blues, classical and World music traditions to the next generation of young musicians.
Kevin studied classical and jazz guitar, music theory and composition. He attended the Berklee College of Music, William Paterson University, and CUNY / City College, where he received his Masters Degree in Music. Teaching credits include faculty/staff member/adjunct lecturer, City College of New York, The National Guitar Workshop, The New School, SUNY New Paltz, Palomba Music Academy, and the Hilton Music Centre.
Kevin McNeal is available for solo and band performances, films and original programming, theater productions, as well as music festivals, throughout the US, Europe, Japan and beyond.
Arthur's Tavern, NYC
Bar Next Door, West Village, NYC
Cotton Club Orchestra, 2019
“With his latest offering, guitarist Kevin McNeal has crafted an assemblage of music that can easily be described as the New York sound. This project, as ambitious as it is accurate, portrays all of the very detailings that capture the FEELING of how artists view the world through their craft. ”
— Greg Osby, Saxophonist, Composer, Producer, Jazz Ensemble Leader