First Fridays at the View-Live Jazz & Dancing

First Fridays at the View is where grown folks come to listen to live jazz, dance and have a good time. Our featured artist for December is "The Al Williams Jazz Society". Al Williams a drummer, entrepreneur, & promoter of jazz—has a well-earned reputation as a musical mover & shaker. Early experience included touring as a percussionist w/ the Jennie LeGon Caribbean Dance Troupe. He has performed @ the Oklahoma Jazz Festival, the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival. His band, the Al Williams Jazz Society, has performed at the UCLA Jazz Festival, the Central Avenue Jazz Festival, the Long Beach Jazz Festival, the L.B. Museum of Art Summer Concert series, the Russian River Jazz Festival, & the Temecula Jazz Festival. His recording &/or touring experience includes work w/ jazz greats, Hampton Hawes (Something Special), Leroy Vinnegar (The Kid), Teddy Edwards, Willie Bobo, Kenny Burrell, Eddie Harris, Freddie Hubbard, Sarah Vaughn, & Roy Ayers. On a more bluesy note, he has kept time for Jimmy Witherspoon & Lowell Folsom.

In 1978, he opened Long Beach’s first jazz club, The Jazz Safari, near the Queen Mary. Expanding and changing the name in 1986, Williams relocated to downtown Long Beach & his new club, Birdland West, earned acclaim from musicians & critics alike as one of the finest jazz clubs in the nation.

In l987, w/ musical momentum in high gear, he founded Rainbow Promotions & produced the 1st Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival. The Long Beach Jazz Festival continues to be a major musical event in Southern California. Al Williams Jazz Society released a new record in 2021 entitled “Then & Now”.

DJ Sidney Thompson will spin the dance music.

The View Music Bar offers state of the art sound & lighting with pristine acoustics, great ambience, drinks and food. We also have an outdoor area for cigar aficionados.

No t-shirts, beanies, baseball caps, sweatsuits, short pants or tennis shoes.

Doors open at 6:30. Arrive early for best seating.

All Reserve Seating is Held Until 7:30 pm

2 drink minimum or food purchase

No Refunds

Host or Publisher Daryl Sweeney