Mike Crotty and Deater O'Neill began working together in 1981--the classic band leader and singer. Then in 1984, they formed a new venue to feature his work as a multi-instrumentalist, her vocals and a great trio. Attesting to the group's musical talent and individual reputations, their first appearance was a performance for the Kool Jazz Festival held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Since that time they have appeared regularly at top Washington, D.C. area jazz clubs, including Blues Alley and the Nest at the Willard Inter-Continental Hotel and the historic King of France Tavern in Annapolis, Md. They represented the city of Washington, D.C., in a cultural exchange/concert series in Bangkok, Thailand, sponsored by United Airlines and Sister Cities International. They have performed at the Jazz Times Convention held in New York City, the National Press Club, in the popular "Concerts at Fountain Square" summer series in Reston, Va., and at the continuing jazz series held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. In the past two years their performances have also included their all-Gershwin pops orchestra concert with jazz trio and symphony orchestra.
They perform jazz standards, emphasizng the great music and lyrics of the American popular song. Crotty's arranging talents have created their distinctive sound, often using O'Neill's voice as a second horn and pairing it with Crotty, whether he plays trumpet, flugelhorn, flutes (alto, C or bass), or alto, soprano and tenor saxophones. Their clinic on using the voice as an instrument has been well received in universities throughout the country.
4/23/99: Crotty and O'Neill
