The Birmingham Seven

Biography

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.
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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.

Rob Alley – Trumpet
Jon Noffsinger – Flute, Soprano & Alto Saxophones
Gary Wheat – Clarinet and Tenor Saxophone
Daniel Western – Clarinet and Baritone Saxophone
Tom Wolfe – Acoustic and Electric Guitars
Chris Kozak – Acoustic and Double Basses
Michael Glaser – Drum Set