Las Vegas-based Charles McNeal studied extensively in Denver Co. privately and at the college level with teachers that include Walt Fowler, Willie Hill, Rich Charluce, Keith Oxman, Ron Miles, Javon Jackson, Nelson Rangell, Brad Leali, and Walter Barr. He has been a featured performer at many national and international festivals including Monterey Jazz Festival (CA), San Jose Jazz Festival (CA), San Francisco Jazz Festival (CA), Playboy Jazz Festival(CA), Telluride Jazz Festival (CO), Umbria Jazz Festival (Italy), and Porretta Soul Festival (Italy). He has performed, recorded, and/or toured with: Lyle Lovett Large Band, The Headhunters w/Mike Clark and Bill Summers, Jimmy Scott, Charlie Mussellwhite, Keb Mo, John Faddis, Wynton Marsalis, James Carter, Steve Turre, Leslie Drayton, McCoy Tyner, Ray Obiedo, Dave Garabaldi, RAD, Steve Turre, James Carter, Brenda Boykin, Claire Dee, Lavay Smith and the Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Barbara Morrison, Jackie Ryan, Take 6, Kirk Whalum, Nneenna Freelon, Barbara Dennerlein, Jr. Mance, Bruce Forman, Mark Elf, Roberta Flack, The Temptations, Ollie Woodson, Norman Conners, Jean Carne, Curtis Olson, Peter Horvath, Jaz Sawyer, Boz Scaggs, and Nicolas Bearde. In addition to being a world-class saxophonist, his website “charlesmcneal.com” is the #1 source for jazz saxophone transcriptions and related educational resources on the web. Read what’s being said about this Las Vegas saxophonist: “…When I walked into Pearl’s, the piece “Brujo” was in full swing. It was a swift piece that featured Charles McNeal primarily on soprano sax with Wally kicking and stomping on the drums, pushing Charles to great heights. The group was very tight and seemed to like that tempo. Charles’s alto solo had a contemporary edge on “Tony,” a piece dedicated to Tony Williams.” “…Charles was into a very avant-garde mode that took the rest of the group in that fast-clip direction.” “…before slowing the pace for the first of Nelson’s compositions, “A Penthouse Dawn,” admirably performed by the orchestra and alto soloist Charles McNeal.”