Jazz Beat: The Harold O’Neal Trio, at the Blue Room

An appearance here by Kansas City native Harold O’Neal is an all-too-infrequent treat. O’Neal is a Paseo Academy alumnus who was mentored by KC jazz greats Bobby Watson and Ahmad Alaadeen, and he has produced records for the hip-hop, pop and R&B worlds. On his acclaimed 2010 release, Whirling Mantis, you can hear hard bop rolling off the keyboard, taken apart and reassembled with swinging and engaging mastery. His uncle is former Kansas City Black Panther leader Pete O’Neal, and Saturday night at the Blue Room, he performs with his trio in celebration of his uncle’s life.