The Mike Murley Septet debuted in April 2005 at the dearly departed Top of the Senator jazz club. Murley arranged the music for this engagement during a three week residency at the Banff Centre under the auspices of a Canada Council Grant.
The septet is a showcase for Murley’s compositional and arranging skills and features some of the most dynamic improvisers on the Toronto jazz scene. The arrangements strive to maintain the open concept of a smaller jazz ensemble and are constructed around a buoyant rhythm section that can take the music in any direction. Besides composing new pieces specifically for the septet Murley has also reworked and arranged some of his favorite repertoire from previous recordings for this new instrumentation.
The septet’s debut recording, Still Rollin', is scheduled for release on Cornerstone records in the fall of 2010. The group will be celebrating this release with a performance at The Rex Jazz Bar on Thurs, Jan 20, 2011 with touring plans in the works for the summer of 2011.
Band Members
Mike Murley - tenor saxophone
Tara Davidson - soprano and alto saxophone
Kevin Turcotte - trumpet
Terry Promane - trombone
David Braid - piano
Jim Vivian - bass
Ted Warren - drums