Birthright was an American jazz tentet from Buffalo, N.Y., that released the 1974–76 albums Free Spirits and Breath of Life on Freelance Records.
Members: Joe Ford (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, electric piano), Paul Gresham (tenor saxophone), Nasar Abadey (drums, percussion), Jim Kurzdorfer (acoustic bass, electric bass), Onaje Allan Gumbs (electric piano, piano), Jimmy Manuel (piano), Beverly Simms (percussion, vocals), Greg Millar (guitar), Tom Schuman (piano), Gerry Eastman (bass)
Background
Birthright formed in early 1974 in Buffalo, N.Y., when alto/soprano saxophonist Joe Ford and tenor saxophonist Paul Gresham teamed with drummer Nasar Abadey in a cooperative ensemble. Ford and Abadey knew each other from a high-school quartet led by Buffalo saxophonist Charles Gayle. Gresham studied at SUNY Buffalo under Gayle and joined Gayle in local performance groups.
Ford earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Central State University in 1968 and returned to Buffalo as a public-school music teacher. He also played piano in local bands that backed touring acts including The Miracles. Abadey moved from Pittsburgh to Buffalo at age five and learned drums from cousin Frankie Dunlop. Abadey studied percussion from 1969 through 1973 with Joe Chambers, Buffalo Philharmonic percussionist John Rowland, SUNY Buffalo instructor Jan Williams, and Jazzmobile drummer Freddie Waits.
Birthright set up Freelance Records as the group production outlet and prepared a first album built entirely from compositions by Ford and Gresham. The group recorded Free Spirits on May 19, 1974, in Buffalo with bassist Jim Kurzdorfer and pianists Jimmy Manuel and Onaje Allan Gumbs.
Discography:
- Free Spirits (1974)
- Breath of Life (1976)
Artist/Album Pages:
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