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GENRE: Jazz/Jazz Septet
COMPOSERS: Daniel Western, Gary Wheat, Rob Alley, Jon Noffsinger

Rob Alley - Trumpet
Jon Noffsinger - Alto Saxophone
Gary Wheat - Tenor Saxophone
Daniel Western - Baritone Saxophone
Tom Wolfe - Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Chris Kozak - Double & Electric Basses
Michael Glaser - Drum Set

The Birmingham Seven (B7) is a straight-ahead jazz septet patterned after the small groups of the hard-bop era. Initially, the group's repertoire consisted of transcriptions and adaptations from historic recordings by jazz icons such as Duke Ellington, Oliver Nelson, Lee Morgan, and Sun Ra. It has since expanded to include original arrangements of jazz standards as well as new compositions. Although rooted in tradition, a typical B7 set will include a wide variety of jazz styles ranging from gospel- and blues-inspired soul jazz to bebop burners, from lush ballads to odd-metered funk, from hard swinging to straight, and even some free jazz sprinkled in from time to time. Their music features virtuosic solo improvisations along with clever arrangements. This is their first recording!

The members of the Birmingham Seven are veteran performers who have worked together in various local, regional, and national ensembles for over 25 years. They began performing together as the Birmingham Seven in 2006 and started recording together in 2012. Not only are they professional colleagues but they are also good friends. This creates a unique familial rapport in their music.

Equally at home on club, festival, auditorium, and/or concert hall stages, the Birmingham Seven has performed for wide and diverse audiences across Alabama, just now 'taking it out'!

Track Listing

Sales Points

• For fans of a straight-ahead jazz septet sound patterned after the small groups of the hard-bop era.

Press Quotes

If you're looking for some old-fashioned, straight-ahead jazz in styles ranging from hard bop to powerfully swinging big-band sounds to Latin to Monk-inflected modernism, then look no further than the debut release of the Birmingham Seven. Just Passing Through presents a full program of originals, most of them written by baritone saxophonist Daniel Western. While the styles vary widely within the general parameters of straight-ahead jazz, two things are consistent: the band's clear respect and affection for the styles in which they play, and a powerful sense of joy in virtuosity -- but at the same time, no one is showing off here; they're serving the tunes and conveying ideas that are as fun to listen to as they are complex and challenging. Highlights include the album-opening 'Gotta Keep 'Em Guessing' and the brilliant horn chart on 'Reed the Room.' I'm very much looking forward to this group's next album.

     —Rick Anderson, CD HotList February 2023