Boutique, handcrafted, organ trio sounds raised in Philadelphia.
The Mini Q’s have been a staple on the Philadelphia jazz scene since keyboardist Luke Carlos O’Reilly and guitarist Ben O’Neill joined forces to create the hard-hitting organ trio in 2004.
Pulling from a wide range of influences, The Qs meld the rich and flavorful jazz tradition of Jimmy Smith, Don Patterson, Pat Martino and Grant Green with the hip hop and soul sensibilities of J Dilla, Jill Scott, TSOP and an ever-expanding repertoire of spirituals and hymns.
For three and a half years, The Mini Qs ran a legendary Monday night jam session that served as a gathering place and proving ground for many of the cities finest musicians. Their debut record, Monday Night Jump came out of that celebrated time. Since then, they have performed at the Kimmel Center, South Jazz Kitchen, Django and other venues in and around Philadelphia and New York City.
The Mini Q’s Ride Again, the long-awaited follow up, is in every way the product of years of maturation, musical marination and growth. In five tracks, funky, fluid, swinging and savory, the trio covers ground as diverse as the American songbook, traditional gospel, and deep, “Blue Note” style groove. It’s taken some time, but The Mini Q’s are in peak form.
Ben O’Neill
Grammy nominated artist, Ben O’Neill has toured the world as the guitarist for John Legend, Jill Scott, Kanye West, Common, Tye Tribbett, and many others. He has released several of his own singer/songwriter records and is on faculty at The University of The Arts.
Luke Carlos O’Reilly
Luke Carlos O’Reilly has recorded and toured with Curtis Fuller, Dave Valentin, Billy Paul, Slide Hampton, Nicholas Payton, Fred Wesley, Red Holloway, Steve Turre, Musiq Soulchild, Carol Riddick and K’naan, among others and is widely respected as one of Philadelphia’s hardest working musicians.
Anwar Marshall
Over the years the Q’s have been joined by many talented musicians, none more important than Anwar Marshall. A fixture on the Philadelphia and New York jazz scenes, Marshall has performed with many of the finest practitioners in the world including Pat Metheny, Dave Douglas, Kurt Rosenwinkle and Russel Malone.