Jazz Professors Archives | 麻豆原创 News Central Florida Research, Arts, Technology, Student Life and College News, Stories and More Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:03:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/blogs.dir/20/files/2019/05/cropped-logo-150x150.png Jazz Professors Archives | 麻豆原创 News 32 32 麻豆原创-Orlando Jazz Festival ’21 Goes Virtual /news/ucf-orlando-jazz-festival-21-goes-virtual/ Thu, 18 Feb 2021 16:23:42 +0000 /news/?p=117811 The 14th annual event Feb. 26-27 features students, alumni, faculty and other professional musicians.

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Jazz is all about improvisation and experimentation 鈥 and that is what the annual 麻豆原创-Orlando Jazz Festival will do when it improvises and goes all virtual Feb. 26-27.

Performances for the 14th year of the event will be streamed from Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts in Winter Park (where 麻豆原创 musicians will be shown) and from Smalls Jazz Club in New York (where alumni and some guest musicians will play).

鈥淪malls presents the highest level of jazz, and is an internationally recognized jazz club,鈥 says Jeff Rupert, a Pegasus Professor, director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 jazz studies, and a member of the Jazz Professors also on the festival lineup. 鈥淣umerous important clubs are closing their doors permanently as a result of COVID, and yet Smalls is working to maintain a presence.

鈥淪ince we can鈥檛 present live jazz at 麻豆原创 this term, the partnership with Smalls was logical. We can present the highest level of art without flying in guests and endangering them or our students.鈥

Rupert said the artists also will give master classes to jazz 麻豆原创 students.

Headlining the New York portions of the festival with performances each day is the Joe Farnsworth Trio, which includes Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Barron on piano.

Students, alumni and other professionals will perform during the weekend event in addition to the Jazz Professors, who will close out the festival on the final night. The band is made up of 麻豆原创 faculty members: Rupert on saxophone, Per Danielson on piano, Richard Drexler on bass, Bobby Koelble on guitar, Dan Miller on Trumpet, and Marty Morell on drums.

The festival鈥檚 schedule is a pay-what-you-can event, with a suggestion of $10. An online link to the performances will be provided in an email confirmation after registering.

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Flying Horse Big Band’s Latest Album Flying High on Charts /news/flying-horse-big-bands-latest-album-flying-high-on-charts/ Fri, 20 Sep 2019 19:54:10 +0000 /news/?p=102903 The band’s sixth album has been on the听three major jazz top 50 listings since it was released in July.

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The latest recording of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Flying Horse Big Band is Good News!

Really, that鈥檚 the name of the album 鈥 Good News! 鈥 and it has been in the top 50 on the three major jazz charts since it was released in July, even spending some time at No. 1 on the Roots Music Report鈥檚 chart. The band鈥檚 sixth album under Professor Jeff Rupert is charting higher than recordings by Van Morrison, Mike LeDonne and other notables.

The success of the band, made up of students in the university鈥檚 jazz studies program, is simple. 鈥淲e work at promoting good music and artistic endeavors,鈥 says Rupert, a tenor saxophonist.

Album cover with lettering Good News!

Selections on the album include the works of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Antonio Carlos Jobim and others. The Good News! title comes from one of the songs on the album, which was composed by one of Rupert鈥檚 former teachers 30 years ago, Bob Mintzer.

This is the band鈥檚 first recording collaboration with the 麻豆原创 Studio Orchestra, which joins on several songs. Other collaborations on the album are with The Jazz Professors (Rupert, Per Danielsson, Richard听Drexler, Bobby Koelble and Marty Morell), and guest vocalist Jeff 鈥淭-Bone鈥 Gerard.

Rupert, director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 jazz studies, also is conductor of the Florida Symphony Youth Jazz Orchestra and founder of Flying Horse Records.

All sales from the album benefit the jazz studies program. CDs are available from and CDBaby, digital downloads are available at retailers, and the album is available on streaming platforms.

The band鈥檚 previous album, The Bat Swings! (2018), hit the top three national jazz airplay charts, reaching No. 1 on both the Roots Music Report and the North American College and Community Radio chart, as well as No. 29 on JazzWeek.

The band also will have an album of Ray Charles songs coming out in January. Rupert has spent some time in New York producing the vocal component of the album.

鈥淣ow we have the top writers and musicians collaborating with the band,鈥 Rupert says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great time at 麻豆原创.鈥

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International Clarinet Association, 麻豆原创 Partner to Bring ClarinetFest to Orlando /news/international-clarinet-association-ucf-partner-bring-clarinetfest-orlando/ Tue, 27 Jun 2017 15:27:12 +0000 /news/?p=77930 ClarinetFest, the annual conference of the International Clarinet Association, will meet July 26-30 in Orlando in partnership with 麻豆原创鈥檚 School of Performing Arts.

Members of the ICA will hold meetings and presentations during the conference, but several evening concerts 鈥 some of which will be by 麻豆原创 musicians 鈥 are open to the public.

鈥淥ver 1,400 clarinet enthusiasts will be coming to Orlando,鈥 said Keith Koons, professor of clarinet at 麻豆原创 and artistic director of the conference at the DoubleTree听Hotel, 5780 Major Blvd. 鈥淲e are pleased that the public will have access to conference performances with many impressive international artists.鈥

The 麻豆原创 Percussion Ensemble will perform at 4:30 p.m. July 28, and the 麻豆原创 Jazz Professors combo will perform at 8:30 p.m. July 29 with two nationally known jazz clarinetists, Ken Peplowski and Allan Vach茅. Vach茅 lives in the Orlando area.

Tickets for these and several other concerts listed at are available at the door. General admission tickets are $15.

The ICA also will present a free outreach concert at 3 p.m. July 29 at Dr. Phillips High School. Musicians from the conference will repeat their performances, and there will be two pieces dedicated to the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.

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Australia’s James Morrison to Join 麻豆原创 Jazz Professors in Concert /news/australias-james-morrison-to-join-ucf-jazz-professors-in-concert/ Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:20:23 +0000 /news/?p=70319 Australian James Morrison, who has performed for two U.S. presidents and the Queen of England, will join the 麻豆原创 Jazz Professors for a concert听Tuesday, Jan. 26, in the Visual Arts Building Auditorium, Room 132.

The concert, hosted by the 麻豆原创 School of Performing Arts, will be a medley of songs decided right before the show. This technique, known as 鈥渃alling tune,鈥 is common among jazz musicians, said 麻豆原创 trumpet professor John Almeida. A musical virtuoso, Morrison is adept with the piano, trumpet, saxophone, double bass and all the brass instruments.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 know how many instruments Mr. Morrison will bring to the concert. He has a steamer trunk full of instruments and you can never tell which ones he鈥檚 going to bring out,鈥 Almeida said.

The 麻豆原创 Jazz Professors are are Jeff Rupert, Michael Wilkinson, Per Danielsson, Richard Drexler, Bobby Koelble and Marty Morell. All听are music faculty members at the university and active performers in the jazz industry. In addition to their solo works, together as a group they create albums that consistently reach the top 50 in the jazz charts. Most recently, their album Do That Again reached No. 6 in JazzWeek.

Tickets may be purchased in advance online or from the 麻豆原创 School of Performing Arts Box Office and are $20 for general admission, $10 with a student ID, and free for students with 麻豆原创 IDs. Doors will open at 8 p.m.

For more information about the .

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Jazz is Alive and Happening at 麻豆原创 /news/jazz-is-alive-and-happening-at-ucf/ Fri, 09 Oct 2015 18:44:47 +0000 /news/?p=68528 The听麻豆原创 Jazz program is combining classic repertory and new works in its fall performance schedule, which runs through December.

Jeff Rupert, director of the Jazz Studies program at 麻豆原创, believes it is critical for students to be working side-by-side with active professional musicians.

鈥淲e are bringing in guest artists who have a strong presence in the professional world, so our students can communicate and interact with them,鈥 said Rupert. 鈥淭his fall we are collaborating on repertory works with in-demand artists Harry Allen and Chuck Redd, and learning and performing new works for jazz groups, like our suite for Miles Davis and James Brown at the Florida Music Educators convention in Tampa this January.鈥

The fall jazz season kicked off Sept. 24 with a performance and master class by jazz vibraphonist Chuck Redd. Rupert said Redd was impressed with 麻豆原创鈥檚 students.

鈥淐huck Redd told me that this has got to be one of the top jazz programs in the country, and certainly the best small jazz program,鈥 Rupert said. 鈥淥ther jazz programs have several hundred students. We have forty. This is a big deal.鈥

Alex Lewis, a trumpet player in his senior year, was conversely enthralled with Redd. 鈥淗is improvisation is beautiful. It was not only how he was playing, but how he was listening and reacting musically to whatever someone else did. That allowed the music to grow and develop.鈥

Lewis has been a member of the Flying Horse Big Band since his first semester at 麻豆原创, in the fall of 2012. The Big Band is the premier student jazz ensemble on campus and students audition for a seat every semester. 鈥淭his band has been the defining point of my university career. It is the highest thing I could have hoped for.鈥

The Flying Horse Big Band has a free concert in Winter Park at the Winter Park Autumn Art festival on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m.

The group will also be performing with tenor saxophonist Harry Allen on Friday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. in the Communications Building Auditorium on the 麻豆原创 campus. Tickets for 鈥淗arry Allen plays Harry Allen with the Flying Horse Big Band鈥 cost $10 and can be purchased in advance.

Allen has more than 30 recordings to his name and frequently tours the U.S., Europe, and Asia. His many accolades include the New York Nightlife Award for Outstanding Jazz Combo Performance and Gold Disk Awards for three of his CDs. He has performed and recorded with Rosemary Clooney, John Pizzarelli, Tony Bennett, James Taylor and Ray Brown, among many others.

Ryan Wasner, a junior jazz studies major focusing on jazz guitar, says that performing with guest artists such as Redd and Allen gives the students insight into the world of jazz. This semester, he is particularly excited to be on the stage with Allen.

鈥淲e are playing music that [Allen] wrote, specifically for this concert,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hese guys have a lot of experience and insight. They鈥檝e experienced what we are trying to do. Most of the time, people in jazz are wanting to give back. It鈥檚 a social art; they want to be mentors to a younger generation.鈥

The Flying Horse Big Band will give its final performance of the fall semester on Dec. 4 in the Nicholson School of Communication auditorium. In addition to the Flying Horse Big Band performances, jazz enthusiasts can attend free performances by student jazz combos and ensembles in the 麻豆原创 Rehearsal Hall at 8 p.m. Oct. 20 and 27, and Nov. 10, 17 and 24.

In addition, two of the university鈥檚 jazz ensembles, the Jazz Professors and The Flying Horse Big Band, are producing albums for 麻豆原创鈥檚 record label, Flying Horse Records. The record label has produced six albums and another is in the works. The most recent release by the Jazz Professors, En Plein Air, reached No. 29 on JazzWeek鈥檚 charts this summer and the Big Band鈥檚 recent release,听鈥淚nto the Mystic鈥 was listed as 鈥淐hartbound鈥 by JazzWeek this July.

Performances at a glance:

Flying Horse Big Band Concert

Sunday, October 11, 2015; 1:00 pm

The 麻豆原创 Flying Horse Big Band will perform at the band shell in Central Park, Winter Park, as part of the Winter Park Art Festival.

颁辞蝉迟:听Free and open to the public

Location: Central Park, Winter Park Band Shell

407-823-1500

Harry Allen Plays Harry Allen, with 麻豆原创鈥檚 Flying Horse Big Band

Flying Horse Big Band

Special Guest Harry Allen, tenor saxophone

Friday, October 16, 2015; 8:00 pm

颁辞蝉迟:听$10, $5 non-麻豆原创 students, free with 麻豆原创 ID
Location:听麻豆原创 Communications Bldg., Auditorium (101)

4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816

407-823-1500

 

Jazz Chamber Group Concert Series: Concert I

Tuesday, October 20, 2015; 8:00 pm

Featuring performances by 麻豆原创 Student Jazz Combos

Cost: Free and open to the public

Location: 麻豆原创 Rehearsal Hall, Auditorium (116)

4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816

407-823-1500

 

Jazz Chamber Group Concert Series: Concert II

Tuesday, October 27, 2015; 8:00 pm

Featuring performances by 麻豆原创 Student Jazz Combos.

Cost: Free and open to the public

Location: 麻豆原创 Rehearsal Hall, Auditorium (116)

4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816

407-823-1500

 

Jazz Ensemble II Concert

Tuesday, November 10, 2015; 8:00 pm

The 麻豆原创 Jazz Ensemble II presents a concert under the direction of Michael Wilkinson.

Cost: Free and open to the public

Location:听麻豆原创 Rehearsal Hall, Auditorium (116)

4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816

407-823-1500

 

Jazz Chamber Groups Concert Series: Concert III

Tuesday, November 17, 2015; 8:00 pm

Featuring performances by 麻豆原创 student Jazz Combos.

Cost: Free and open to the public

Location:听麻豆原创 Rehearsal Hall, Auditorium (116)

4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816

407-823-1500

 

Jazz Chamber Groups Concert Series: Concert IV

Tuesday, November 24, 2015; 8:00 pm

Featuring performances by 麻豆原创 student Jazz Combos.

Cost: Free and open to the public

Location:听麻豆原创 Rehearsal Hall, Auditorium (116)

4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816

407-823-1500

 

Flying Horse Big Band Concert

Friday, December 4, 2015; 8:00 pm

颁辞蝉迟:听$10, $5 non-麻豆原创 students, free with 麻豆原创 ID
Location:听麻豆原创 Communications Bldg., Auditorium (101)

4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816

407-823-1500

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麻豆原创 Jazz Albums Climb National Airplay Chart /news/ucf-jazz-albums-climb-national-airplay-chart/ Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:10:02 +0000 /news/?p=45864 Update: The Jazz Professors’ new album climbed into the No. 6 spot on the JazzWeek album chart as of March 1.

The Jazz Professors’ new album, Do That Again,听has climbed to No. 13 on the JazzWeek album chart in its third week of release. Meanwhile, The Blues is Alright, a CD of performances by 麻豆原创 students, is keeping famous company among the “Most Added” albums.

Do That Again is the second album from The Jazz Professors, a group of six 麻豆原创 faculty members who are also seasoned performers. Having recorded and toured with a veritable 鈥渨ho鈥檚 who鈥 of the jazz realm, The Jazz Professors include director and saxophonist Jeff Rupert and Marty Morell, a former member of the Bill Evans Trio.

麻豆原创’s student ensemble players are rubbing shoulders with the likes of Kevin Eubanks, the Wayne Shorter Quartet, and Grace Kelly on JazzWeek’s “Most Added” chart. The Blues is Alright, by the 麻豆原创 Jazz Ensemble I and Jazz Workshop, features three original songs as well as new and classic arrangements of several jazz standards.

Do That Again and The Blues is Alright are published by 麻豆原创 Music鈥檚 label, Flying Horse Records. Both records are available for purchase. Digital downloads are available from most major online music retailers.

JazzWeek is the definitive Jazz and Smooth Jazz national radio airplay chart鈥攁 weekly report of the top 50 jazz and smooth jazz recordings played on radio stations across the United States and Canada. Radio reporters and industry subscribers receive the weekly Jazz Fax or Smooth Fax with the current chart each Friday.

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