Jackson Free Press

For many, seven is a lucky number, representing good fortune. In jazz, the seventh chords are one of the essential building blocks of improvisation. In downtown Jackson, Seven* is the latest urban jazz café. And for Seven*'s proud owner Ezra Brown (also a jazz musician), the seventh letter of the alphabet represents God—whom Brown credits as the inspiration behind his latest creation.

Brown is originally an East Coast kid from Florence, S.C. He was destined to become a musician, having grown up in a musical household. His father was a DJ, and his mother taught piano out of their home. She also sang in the church choir. "That's my heart. She really encouraged me. Either way it went, I had music in my blood," he says, smiling, his architectural glasses framed by dreadlocks. "My mother, she really brought it out, because she could sing."

The talents spun out of Brown's musical blood were quickly apparent, and early in the sixth grade, his teacher gave him a recorder—a structural building block for musicians. Then he mastered the alto recorder. In the seventh grade, his teacher insisted he play the saxophone. "You keep goin' on—you gotta play the saxophone," she said to him. And that was just the beginning. He went on to play tenor, alto, baritone and soprano sax, as well as clarinet, flute, keyboard and drums.

But he didn't come to Jackson until 1992. He spent his formative musical years in Augusta, Ga., then became a jazz major at JSU, because, he says, "out of all of the historically black institutions, Jackson State is ranked number two, as far as jazz programs."

During his last semester at JSU, Brown began touring, which was the launch of his musical journey around the world. He spent three years performing on the Carnival Cruise lines. Proudly, he was the youngest horn player on the circuit. He also toured with Dorothy Moore, Willie Clayton, B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland and others.

Refusing to be bound by the demands of the road, Brown began recording. To help him with this, Harrison Calloway—who, Brown says, "opened my eyes to arranging"—arranged many of the horn sections for tunes Brown recorded on various blues labels, such as Ace Records. So far, Brown has showcased his talent in more than 50 recordings. And he's also found time to pursue his dream of having his own performance space—Seven*.

Seven* has a great vibe that you feel right when you walk in. It's a palpable ambience, one that adheres to the senses. The concept of Seven* is for all people to experience what Brown calls a "A Love Supreme."

" 'Supreme' is the highest form of love," Brown says. He exudes this himself. "It is the true love of people, where personal expression is welcome."

Personal expression is encouraged through poetry, which is accompanied by a groovin' jazz funk beat, courtesy of the many fine local musicians whom Brown regularly plays with. This ain't no Kenny G.

"There is no fluff-fluff stuff here," Brown jokes.

Cool Jazz Rising

Catch live jazz at Seven* Saturday and Sunday nights (as well as other nights during the week—check the venue listings for details.) MusiQuarium offers live jazz through OffiSource on Wednesday evenings, and Thursday is usually jazz night at Hal & Mal's, with a rotating cast of regulars. Also find live jazz at the Hilton Tues.-Sat.., at Schimmel's on Saturdays and a jazz brunch at Char on Sundays. Of all the musical genres played in Jackson, jazz is experiencing a true renaissance. There hasn't been a better time to get your butt out of the house—and as Brown says, "Support live music!"
— Andy Saje

Andy Saje, a jazz lover, is a local engineer and musician.