Darryl Williams CD Release Concert
Darryl Williams CD Release at Harvelle’s in Long Beach ends 2019 with a Bang!
An exciting evening to end the 2019 year was Darryl Williams’s CD release concert. Honored with distinguished guests Chuck Dennis of Oxnard Jazz Festival, Kaylene Peoples/recording artist and founder of SCHMOOZE JAZZ and AGENDA magazines, and Grammy-nominated Bunny Brunel just to name a few, showed up at Harvelle’s in Long Beach to support the concert and to celebrate award-winner entertainment journalist Sheryl Aronson’s birthday on December 29th!
On December 29, 2019, bass player Darryl Williams closed out the year with a high powered CD release concert, promoted by JazzKat Entertainment (Allen Gray) at Harvelle’s in Long Beach, CA. On this particular evening, I also celebrated my birthday with some very good friends and colleagues such as Kaylene Peoples (Agenda & Schmooze Jazz founder/recording artist), Bunny Brunel (2-time Grammy-nominated bassist), Chuck Dennis (CEO Oxnard Jazz Festival), Daphne King (Oxnard Jazz Festival), Thomas and Karla Woods (Oxnard Jazz Festival), Violet Williams, Tom Spanos and, Debbie Marten. (Photos by Sheryl Aronson)
Darryl Williams’s touring resume gleams with some of the top artists in the Smooth Jazz genre such as Euge Groove, Jonathan Butler, Michael Lington, Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum, Mindi Abair and many more. He also formed the local band – LA Collective with Tony Moore, Greg Manning, and Adam Hawley. In 2017 he released his second CD, Here to Stay which achieved critical acclaim and gave birth to a top 10 Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart hit single, “Here to Stay” which featured Euge Groove. Additionally, Williams released the single “Do You Remember” which hit #2 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart as well. Some other top singles have been “Now or Never” (hitting #29 in 2018) and “How Long Has It Been” reached #1 on the Groove Jazz and Radio Jazz Charts.
During the concert, Darryl Williams treated the audience with many of his hit songs, featuring outstanding musicians. The band included Bryan Thompson (sax), Carlyle Barriteau (guitar), Jermone Randall (bass), and Tateng Katindig (keys). Between the funky bass playing (both electric and even piccolo bass), Williams wowed us all. Tony Moore, as usual, gave us an amazing solo on drums, Bryan Thompson seduced us all with his intense solos on the soprano sax; Carlyle Barriteau shredded on the guitar with electrifying intensity, and Tateng Katindig played the keys passionately.
In between sets, Allen Gray surprised me by honoring my contributions to the Smooth Jazz music genre; I was quite touched by his words. Another unforeseen announcement came from Darryl Williams, who expressed his admiration and appreciation that renowned fusion legend Bunny Brunel was in the audience.
The concert ended on a high note as Darryl Williams and his band turned up some funky music, bringing everyone to their feet to dance.
