Bill O’Connell is a living example of what can happen when the old axiom “Good things come to those who wait” is put to the test. His professional career spans almost half a century and has earned him widespread acclaim for his virtuosic skills as an attention-grabbing keyboardist, composer, arranger, and bandleader.

On four separate occasions he has been honored by receipt of the coveted “Jazz Writer of the Year” award from SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers), a performing rights organization. In the fall of 2022 O'Connell received a Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Arrangement for his clever retooling of the novelty piece "Chopsticks" as a Latin jazz infused romp for drummer Richard Baratta's album "The Reel Deal" (Savant). 

O’Connell was born in New York City on August 22, 1953. Initially his focus as a fledgling piano student was on the established classical repertoire. He studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music which served his initial goal of becoming a classical composer. But discovering jazz radically changed his career path. 

   O’Connell’s debut recording as a leader was Searching, a trio date for Inner City Records in 1978. Over the following four decades, he would record 18 other sessions as a leader, highlighting his stylistic versatility on releases that include solo, duo, and trio formats and a bevy of sessions featuring various incarnations of his Latin Jazz All-Stars ensemble. Over the years he chalked up sideman roles with a stylistically eclectic group of major artists, from Astrud Gilberto, Sonny Rollins, and Chet Baker to John Lucien, Neanna Freelon, and Gato Barbieri.

His initiation into the fertile alternative universe that Latin jazz represents came when he was tapped in 1977 to join Cuban conga player Mongo Santamaria’s popular group as keyboardist and de-facto music director. Working with the legendary conguero for two years afforded the young pianist the opportunity to hone the three skills he would emphasize throughout his career – composing, arranging, and playing. His time with Santamaria also resulted in the pianist’s key participation on two trendsetting albums for the Vaya label, Amanecer and Mongo ala Carte. 

After his stint with Santamaria, O’Connell embraced his next artistic challenge as keyboardist and music director for flutist Dave Valentín, one of the most popular Latin jazz artists of his time. O’Connell served in this privilaged role for close to three decades, right up to the time of Valentín’s passing in 2017. 

For his part, O’Connell remains true to the simple philosophy that has shaped his artistic vision throughout his long career. “I want to give the listener something to think about,” he comments, adding “and, perhaps, to expand the horizons of Latin jazz.”