Al Williams Jazz
Society
BIO: Al Williams—drummer, entrepreneur and promoter of jazz—has a
well-earned reputation as a musical mover and shaker. Williams was born in
Pasadena, California, and his love affair with music began at the age of
eight when he began studying the clarinet. During high school, he played
in the school band, the Boys’ Club Concert Band, and the Los Angeles
Philharmonic Youth Band. At the age of seventeen, he finally convinced his
parents to let him pursue and develop his interest in playing drums, which
has continued to be his main musical love. While in college, Williams
organized his first band, The Modern Jazz Majors, and their
enthusiastically-received performances at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach
launched him into the beginnings of a music career, a career that
ultimately branched off into two directions—an entrepreneurial
/promotional direction, and, of course, the development of his own musical
artistry as a drummer and band leader.
As an entrepreneur, he literally brought the excitement of jazz music
to Southern California & Long Beach. In 1978, he opened Long Beach’s
first jazz club, The Jazz Safari, in the village near the Queen Mary.
Expanding and changing the name in 1986, Williams relocated to downtown
Long Beach, and his new club, Birdland West, earned acclaim from musicians
and critics alike as one of the finest jazz clubs in the nation. In 1988,
musical momentum in high gear, he created the project nearest and dearest
to his heart when he founded Rainbow Promotions and produced the 1st
Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival. In August 2007, The Long Beach Jazz
Festival celebrates its 21st year and continues to be a major musical
event in Southern California.
Williams stays personally connected to music through his
drumming—gigging locally and recording. As a talented drummer, his style
is crisp and sensitive, reflecting attention to melody and the ability to
find the groove that makes it all swing. Whether it be bebop, blues, funk,
straight ahead, or Latin, he creates rhythmic artistry and power which
support the melody line and command listener involvement. Early experience
included touring as a percussionist with the Jennie LeGon Caribbean Dance
Troupe. Accomplished audience pleasers wherever they perform, The Al
Williams Jazz Society has delighted listeners at the following Jazz
Festivals: Queen Mary, Mt. Hood, UCLA, Russian River, Temecula International Jazz Festival, Newport Beach Jazz Party, Long Beach Jazz Festival and the
Long Beach Museum of Art summer concert series. His recording and/or
touring experience includes work with such jazz greats as the late Hampton
Hawes (Something Special), the late Leroy Vinnegar (The Kid), the late Teddy
Edwards, the late Willie Bobo, Kenny Burrell, the late Eddie Harris, and
Roy Ayers (Vegas show-stoppers) among others. On a more bluesy note, he
has kept time for Jimmy Witherspoon and Lowell Folsom.
As a band leader, he has three well-received recordings to his credit,
Sandance and Let’s Celebrate, a bringing together of international
favorites: Grammy Winner Poncho Sanchez, Roy Ayers, The Jazz Crusaders’
Wayne Henderson, and vocalist Barbara Morrison and his latest Meeting
At The Crossroads. The Al Williams Jazz Society is a quintet composed of
some of the finest musicians in Southern California. High in energy,
melodically sensitive, they are bebop specialists who also perform a
variety of contemporary sounds—blues, ballads, Latin rhythms, smooth jazz,
etc. Whether it’s the Al Williams Jazz Society or the Al Williams Trio
performing, there is always a loyal following of fans who can count on the
unique artistry of his bands, bands that always included musicians whose
backgrounds are rich in experience and achievement.
Introducing Al Williams' new CD, 'Meeting At The Crossroads'
This
eclectic combination of songs will please all jazz audiences whether their
taste is Smooth Jazz, Latin
Jazz, Straight Ahead Jazz or Blues. 'Meeting at
the Crossroads' has something for every Jazz listener.
The sparkling
sound of the soprano sax and muted trumpet will surely please any NAC
audience with the tunes, 'Angels Passing', and 'Everything Must Change'.
The remake of 'Something You’ve Got', 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy' and 'Scratch'
will softly funk you out, while Eddie Harris’s tune, 'There Was A Time',
will comfortably set you in a Latin mood.
The remainder of the CD, 'Funky Fox', 'The Sidewinder', 'Shake Your Booty' (an original), and 'Body
and Soul' lean more toward a traditional jazz sound, with a contemporary
flair.
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