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Paul van Wormer
Flying Horse Big Band: Swingin' with the Flying Horse Big Band
by Jack Bowers
Swingin' is indeed the hallmark and animating purpose of the 11th recording by the stellar Flying Horse Big Band, the flagship jazz ensemble of the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Under saxophonist Jeff Rupert's able direction, the FHBB plants the pedal on the metal at the outset and doesn't slow the engine before the album's rather peculiar and awkward finale, John Hiatt's sauntering blues, “Feels Like Rain," mournfully sung by guest artist Rob Paparozzi who doubles on harmonica.
Continue Reading...The Flying Horse Big Band: Unbridled
by Jack Bowers
On Unbridled, its ninth album to date, central Florida's admirable Flying Horse Big Band “meets veteran tenor saxophonist George Garzone" on four of seven numbers, starting with John Coltrane's exemplary jazz standard, “Giant Steps," arranged by the band's music director, Jeff Rupert. Garzone is showcased again on Michael Philip Mossman's handsome arrangement of Rupert's seductive “Pharaoh's Daughter," Lalo Schifrin's genial “Reflections" (neatly scored by Mark Taylor) and Slide Hampton's clever arrangement (borrowing phrases from “Giant Steps") of Coltrane's ...
Continue Reading...The 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 ...
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