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Jeff Rupert, 3 Cohens, and Last Exit
by Jerome Wilson
This show features a wide variety of jazz musicians, such as Jeff Rupert, Bobby Kapp, 3 Cohens, Donald Byrd, and Last Exit. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic} 00:00 Mathis Picard “The Creation of the World" from Live at the Museum (Outside In) 00:53 Bobby Kapp “Trance Dance" from Synergy (Tweed Blvd) 4:38 Craig Davis “Opus No. 5" from Tone ...
Continue ReadingJeff Rupert: It Gets Better
by Jack Bowers
Florida-based tenor saxophonist Jeff Rupert leads a superlative quartet on It Gets Better, a graceful and charming album recorded September 2021 at the renowned Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey. While comparisons to other musicians are as a rule less than viable, the striking similarities between Rupert and the late jazz giant Stan Getz cannot simply be overlooked or ignored. As John Coltrane once said of Getz, “We'd all sound like that if we could." Not only can Rupert sound ...
Continue ReadingThe Flying Horse Big Band: A Message From The Flying Horse Big Band
by Jack Bowers
The Message on the Florida-based Flying Horse Big Band's sixth album comes straight from the “messengers" themselves-- drummer Art Blakey's legendary Jazz Messengers, whose music is admirably presented here, and to whom the album is dedicated. Its ten songs were composed by members of the Jazz Messengers--Wayne Shorter, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, Benny Golson--and two were re-scored for a large ensemble by former Messenger Michael Philip Mossman, with other charts by Mark Taylor (four), Harry ...
Continue ReadingThe Jazz Professors: Blues and Cubes
by Jack Bowers
Yes, the Florida-based Jazz Professors, as befits the name, are smart—but don't let that throw you. They also swing in the best jazz tradition, even though their fourth album, Blues and Cubes, was inspired by the art of Pablo Picasso. Unlike Picasso's works, however, there is scant abstraction here; the Professors embody far more bop than bemusement, more Blue Note than bohemian. As for day gigs, the Professors maintain theirs at the University of Central Florida in ...
Continue ReadingNate Najar: Jazz Samba Pra Sempre
by Edward Blanco
Pioneered by Brazilian guitarist Joao Gilberto and popularized by Baden Powell, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Roberto Menescal and others in the early '60s, the bossa nova sound resonated strongly with the American jazz audience, and the Stan Getz / Charlie Byrd album Jazz Samba (Verve Records, 1962) became one of the driving forces behind this genre. Guitarist Nate Najar, who was heavily influenced by the music of Byrd, unveils his fourteenth album as leader with Jazz Samba Pra Sempre (Jazz Samba ...
Continue ReadingFlying Horse Big Band: Florida Rays
by Jack Bowers
On its seventh recording, Florida Rays, the University of Central Florida's always dependable Flying Horse Big Band abandons its usual modus operandi—straight-from-the-hip contemporary jazz--to survey music associated with R&B legend (and Florida native) Ray Charles. As Charles, an accomplished musician, was best known as a vocalist, one might anticipate (correctly) that a handful of Charles' progeny would be stopping by to unmask their vocal talents. There are four singers in all: Rob Paparozzi, Vance Villastrigo, DaVonda Simmons and, last but ...
Continue ReadingJeff Rupert, Betty Carter, Gary Peacock and More
by Joe Dimino
This week we focus on brand new material from artists that don't get the attention they deserve in the world of jazz. We begin with Jeff Rupert teamed up with the legendary George Garzone and make our way to trombonist Ryan Keberle. We profile new music from Polish saxophonist Sywester Ostrowski and Bobby Watson paying their respects to the Super Bowl 54 Champion Kansas City Chiefs. We pay homage to bassist Gary Peacock, who recently passed away at the age ...
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