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).
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