Jeff Rupert - George Garzone The Ripple

Jeff Rupert - George Garzone
The Ripple
Rupe Media

"The Ripple," the title of the new CD by tenor saxophonists Jeff Rupert and George Garzone, refers "to the far-reaching effect of Lester Young's voice in music." Rupert is the director of The Flying Horse Band out of the University of Central Florida's Jazz Program. Besides being a master of the tenor saxophone, Garzone is a revered educator, with noted students including Joshua Redman, Branford Marsalis, and Donny McCaslin. Besides being educators, they are both superior tenor saxophonists. Backing them is a first-rate rhythm section of Richard Drexler on piano, Jeremy Allen on bass, and Marty Morrell on drums, all of whom have a lengthy association with Rupert.

There are no compositions by Young, or songs recorded by him, on this album. Instead, it features pieces recorded or composed by some of the musicians influenced by Young, including Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Eddie Harris, Zoot Sims, Wayne Shorter, and Joe Henderson. Of course, tenor sax pairings go back to the Basie days, and in recent years we have been graced with the likes of Johnny Griffin and Lockjaw Davis, Dexter Gordon and Gene Ammons, and Al Cohn and Zoot Sims. Rupert and Garzone are another stellar tenor sax pairing.

The music on this recording is exquisite starting with a marvelous bossa nova "Bahia" first recorded by Stan Getz, and if both display ties to Lester Young's Legacy, they each have their own voice. Rupert perhaps employs a slightly more legato approach, while Garzone's attack at times shows his incorporation of aspects of the styles of Coltrane and Rollins. This is most obvious on Garzone's startling opening to "Stardust." Rupert's original, "GO-GO," is a brisk swinging number that derives from a Lockjaw Davis tune. Other highlights of this recording include a terrific rendition of "Without a Song"; the relaxed swing of "The Red Door" from Gerry Mulligan and Zoot Sims; a relaxed take of Lionel Hampton's "Red Top" that opens with the rhythm section quoting Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage"; and the inspired "Hoboken," a contrafact derived from Monk's "Hackensack."

After a spirited "Lester Left Town," this recording closes with an unaccompanied duet by the two, "Alone Together." Rupert and Garzone are superb saxophonists playing some marvelous songs and backed by a first-rate rhythm section. The result is this extraordinary recording.

I received a review copy from a publicist. Here is a video of Jeff Rupert performing with a quartet including Richard Drexler and Marty Morell.

The Flying Horse Big Band Good News!

The Flying Horse Big Band
Good News!
Flying Horse Records

The Flying Horse Big Band is a big band out of the University of Central Florida's Jazz Program under the direction of tenor saxophonist Jeff Rupert. "Good News!" is the sixth album by what is becoming a very highly regarded university big band. On this album, they are joined on several selections by the UCF Studio Orchestra, and on one selection, The Jazz Professors are heard. The music heard are from such jazz masters as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Bob Mintzer, and Michael Phillip Mossman. Mossman, a former member of Machito's legendary big band provided and Rupert, each provided several arrangements to this recording.

This is one hard-swinging aggregation starting with the heated rendition of Miles Davis' "The Serpents' Tooth" with some raucous baritone sax from Saul Dautch. This performance also has robust trombone solos from Jeremiah St. John and Christian Herrera while the band roars behind them. If this does not get the temperature rising, call an ambulance. While Miles Davis is credited with "Vierd Blues," it is likely a John Coltrane composition. Trombonist Herrera and guitarist Chris Medina solo against the unusual Mossman arrangement. Mossman also provided the handsome arrangement for Jobim's "Aqua de Beber," one of the three compositions the UCF Studio Orchestra play on to great effect. St. John takes a serpentine-shaped trombone solo followed by Dautch on alto saxophone with a somewhat dry tone.

Mossman provided the ingenious, inspired arrangement of Monk's "Tinkle, Tinkle," with the sections playing off each other. Dautch plays impressively on baritone sax while bassist Zach Greene provides a motif to anchor this performance. This is followed by The Jazz Professors and the UCF Studio Orchestra interpreting Monk's "Round Midnight." Jeff Rupert provided the arrangement as well as tenor sax on a performance opening with the Orchestra providing the setting for Rupert's statement of theme and solo. It segues into The Jazz Professors playing this theme with solos from pianist Per Danielsson, guitarist Bobby Koelble, and bassist Richard Drexler. John Lennon's "Imagine" is heard in two mixes, one a shorter radio mix and also an extended mix with Rupert's arrangement and the Orchestra. Jeff "T-Bone" Gerard provides narration and a moving vocal with some strong tenor sax from Rupert.

We should not forget the keyboards of Mikal Mancini and the drums of Devon Costanza who with bassist Greene and guitarist Medina make a superb rhythm section. They help drive this terrific big band on an excellent recording.

I received a download from a publicist. This review appeared in the September-October 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 386).