BY NICK DIAMANTIDES
Staff Writer
If last Sunday’s jazz concert in Bixby Knolls was a harbinger, that part of Long Beach could become famous for its live music venues. Four hundred seventy-five people showed up for the event, which took place in the vacant, former Expo Furniture building on Atlantic Avenue a few blocks north of Carson Street. Coordinated by the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association (BKBIA) and the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, the concert featured two bands: Jack Sheldon and the California Cool Quartet and the Al Williams Jazz Society featuring Barbara Morrison. Unfortunately, Jack Sheldon, who is recovering from an illness, could not attend, but another trumpet player accompanied his band in his absence.
A small portion of the building was also cordoned off with room partitions that held the paintings of local artists. In addition, actors and actresses dressed in Shakespearean costumes wandered along the perimeter of the seating area. Meanwhile, a steady stream of music fans moved in the lines leading to the food, beverages and pastries provided by Nino’s Italian Restaurant, It’s A Grind, and Alsace Lorraine Bakery.
Eighth District City Councilwoman Rae Gabelich said she enjoyed the music of both bands immensely. “It was over the top,” she said. “This is like the next step up the ladder to put Bixby Knolls on the map in terms of the arts community and social community in our city.”
The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency purchased the building last year and allowed the BKBIA to use it for the concert at no cost. Gabelich said she hoped the agency would allow more live music performances in the building. She explained that the RDA purchased the site with the idea of selling it to someone who would develop it as a steak restaurant or fish house, which Bixby Knolls residents have been requesting for many years. “Then the economy turned,” she said. “Until the time comes that we have someone that is ready to develop it as a restaurant, having music and arts events in that building is a great way to put it to good use.” She added that it might turn out that the building becomes a permanent venue for arts and music in Bixby Knolls. “This could be one of the shining stars that comes out of the recession,” she said. “Maybe the result will be different than the original intention, but if it proves to be as successful as the Sunday concert, I couldn’t be happier.”
Peter Bostic, executive director of Leadership Long Beach, agreed. “There is nothing like arts and music to bring people together in a positive, joyful way,” he said. “It’s a great Sunday afternoon as far as the neighborhood and Long Beach as a whole.”
Chris Garcia, president of the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, said the people in his organization had been hoping for such an event for a long time. “Since Blair Cohn came on board with the business improvement association, we have worked closely with them and the redevelopment agency, and good things have started happening for us,” he said. “We wanted to have a concert like this to raise funds and to draw people to the Bixby Knolls area.” Garcia added that he hopes the Expo Building can be turned into a culture center in the future, noting that it would improve the quality of life in the area and attract more shoppers and diners. (The Shakespeare Company produces plays in the nearby Richard Goad Theatre.)
“This is a great venue and a great event for the southern portion of North Long Beach,” said community activist Dan Pressberg. ” We need to have a lot more of these to make people more aware of this area of town.”
Cohn, executive director of the BKBIA, said he does not yet know if the RDA will allow the association to use the building for future concerts. “But they seemed very enthusiastic about the possibility of us continuing to use the building,” he said. “Everyone agreed that the jazz concert was the right thing to do.” He added that he was pleased with the entire event. “The music was fantastic, and everybody I talked to was very happy with it,” he said.
Cohn had worked closely with Helen Borgers, the Shakespeare Company’s artistic director, to coordinate the event. Borgers is also a well-known jazz disc jockey for CSULB’s KKJZ Radio. She used her connections in the jazz world to get the bands. “I had no idea we would have such a great turnout,” she said “We thought we might get one or two hundred people and we would have been happy with that, but we got a capacity crowd and did not even have enough chairs for everyone.”
Audience members smiled and gently swayed while Shedlon’s band performed, and each tune was followed by enthusiastic applause. But when the Al Williams Jazz Society took the stage and Barbara Morrison took the mike, scores of people took to dancing, even forming a line dance that took all four corners of the auditorium.
Proceeds from the event were divided between the Shakespeare Company and the BKBIA. “The money will help us to continue offering good plays for the community,” Morrison said. “It will also help the business association to put on more events that draw people into the Bixby Knolls area. But personally I am just thrilled with the turnout and the enthusiasm of the audience because it proves that there is strong support for live jazz in Bixby Knolls.”
The members of the audience were pleased, too.
“I am so excited about this today I can hardly stand to be in my own skin,” said Long Beach resident Doris Felix. “We have got this phenomenal jazz here in Bixby Knolls and we have this phenomenal turnout. I am ecstatic.”
Joseph Washington, another Long Beach resident, agreed. He noted that he has been a lover of jazz since early boyhood years. “I am glad this is happening today,” he said. “The music is great and I am glad that by attending this performance I can support the Shakespeare Company and the arts in Long Beach.”
Andrew Williams the owner of AKA Auto Sales was also happy to be in attendance. “I love jazz, and it’s a big part of my life,” he said. “Being able to enjoy a live performance right here in Long Beach is just wonderful.”
