Album Release Party

On Friday, April 22nd at 7:00pm come out for the “The Same Changes, Vol I” album release party by the talented Connor O’Neill joined by Steven Perry on Drumset, Shane Aaserud on Bass, Morgan Walbridge on Vibraphone and Mervin Toussaint on Saxophone.

In a stylish space nested in Fishtown, an intimate crowd will experience the album up close! Evening will be complimented with wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres, and leave time to meet the artists behind music.

“The Same Changes", Vol I” is a collection of stories—Connor’s thoughts, experiences, and reflections manifested as moments in time. These stories are meant to vividly conjure images and realities, to connect a broader community through experience shared and related.

Capped at 50 guests - Tickets $30  (includes two drink tickets)

Location - 1714 N. Mascher Street

Meet the artists

Connor O’Neill is a guitarist, composer, and producer from Philadelphia, who is carving out space for himself as an artist focusing on modern creative music. He graduated with a master’s degree in jazz studies from the University of the Arts in December 2019. He also received an undergraduate degree from the University of the Arts in 2017, receiving the School of Music Jazz Award and the Catherine T. Quaile Memorial Guitar Award that year.

O’Neill is set to release his debut album, The Same Changes, Vol. 1, in April of 2022. The album features entirely original compositions and arrangements, and features O’Neill’s skill as a guitarist and improviser. Since 2014, O’Neill has led the Connor O’Neill Quartet, which performs his compositions and arrangements exclusively. O’Neill frequently performs as a sideman, displaying a mastery of a multitude of musical styles. In August 2018, Connor was a featured artist, along with vocalist Jessica Cantone, in The Gathering II, an event curated by the Philadelphia non-profit, Artsi. O’Neill was featured on Mervin Toussaint’s 2020 EP, Another Name for Everything, as a guitarist, producer and sole mixing/mastering engineer. He is currently engineering Toussaint’s next album, set to release in 2022. O’Neill has also privately taught guitar, music theory, jazz history, improvisation, and musicianship since 2014.

Mervin Toussaint is an active saxophonist, composer, and producer in the
Philadelphia area. With his roots in the Haitian church, Mervin has branched
out to include Jazz, RnB, Neo-soul, and other contemporary styles in his
musical voice. Regardless of the situation, Mervin aims to pay homage to the
greats that came before him while still maintaining his originality. Mervin
does all this and more in his debut EP Another Name For Everything, which
he released in December 2020.
Mervin has also performed with a wide array of poets, singers, rappers, and
spoken word artists. You can often find him playing at different venues in the
city, including SOUTH Jazz Kitchen, Chris’s Jazz Cafe, Dahlak Paradise, The
Free Library, and Paris Bistro as a leader and sideman.

Shane Adam Aaserud is a professional musician based out of Philadelphia PA. He received his Master’s in Jazz Studies from the University of the Arts in 2015 and has since been performing all over the country in groups of all genres.
He recently played for the National Tours of The SpongeBob Musical (Philadelphia Leg), Cabaret and A Charlie Brown Christmas. He continues to play for local artists such as Ben O’Neill and Dave Allen.

Steven Perry is a Percussionist, Composer, and Educator from South Bend, Indiana and currently based in Philadelphia. Perry holds a Bachelors in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University and a Master’s from Temple University. In his time at these universities he was able to study with many of the greatest names in jazz including: Rodney Green, Byron Landham, Tony Miceli, Edward Simon, and Mike Moreno (as well as many others). At the age of 27, Perry is one of the top call sideman in the Philadelphia and has performed with Philly Jazz greats such as: Lucas Brown, Norman David, John Swana, and Mike Boone as well as international touring artists Rex Richardson, Grant Stewart, and Onder Focan. Perry is also an experienced educator, working with organizations such as The Kimmel Center, Music Center of Southwest Michigan, and Music Factory Philly.