Imagine Something Wonderful: The Flying Horse Big Band meets the UCF Orchestra

Generously supported by The Honorable Judith A. Albertson and Mr. David Albertson

 

Conducted by Jeff Rupert and Chung Park

UCF’s premier jazz ensemble, the Flying Horse Big Band directed by Jeff Rupert, joins forces with the UCF Orchestra for a swinging evening of music including hits from the big band’s past albums and some new surprises, including a world premiere by UCF Pegasus Professor Stella Sung dedicated to the University’s first couple, President and Mrs. John C. Hitt.

 

We’ll Always Believe In You

Dr. Stella Sung, music and lyrics
Earl D. Weaver, stage director
Hayley Scott, soprano
Chase Cashion, tenor

 

From the day we met,
Our path was set.
For all eternity,
You and me.

Look at all the things we’ve done.
Look at all the things we’ve shared.
All the work we’ve just begun,
All the ways we showed we cared.

Taking every chance,
Breaking free,
Seeing every possibility.
Asking every why and every how,
Living every moment here and now.

Dream big, dream on,
And reach for the stars wherever you are,
And know that we’ll always be true.
We’ll be right here with you.

We’ll always believe in you.

Dream big, dream on,
And reach for the stars wherever you are,
And know that we’ll always be true.
We’ll be right here with you.

Now we’ve come so far along,
Helping everyone stay strong.
Showing all the ways to see,
What their life could truly be.

Taking every chance,
Breaking free,
Seeing every possibility.
Asking every why and every how,
Living every moment here and now.

Fly high, fly wide,
And reach for the stars wherever you are,
And know that we’ll always be true,
We’ll be right here with you.

We’ll always believe in you.

 

UCF Symphony Orchestra

Violin

Daniel Seymour^
Jordan Bicasan*
Emily Champagne&
Jerika‘Marie Cruz
Jennifer Guo
Steven Hernandez
Jin Na Jones
Richard Klemm#
Sarah Kwilecki
Julia Lancieri
Krister Lawlor
Jill Mezo
Connor Olivardia
Mike Pan
Beck Roberts
Madeleine Smith
Sarah Stanley
Robin Thompson
Emma Tumlin
Kathy Zhu

Viola

Sharon Billman*
Michael Loyd*
Steven Dibidad
Pamela Leadbitter@
Geralyn Moore
Michael Simpson
Alexandra Zuleta-Visser
Aaron Wiggins@

Violincello

Aramis Ruiz-Ruiz*
Jedidah Wong&
Chavelle Altamonte
Linda Cartagena
Jomar Cruz
Emily Elmore
David Herzog
Carlos Moros
Sydney Smallwood

Contrabass

Adam Fimbres*
Edwin Rivera Jorge*
Michael Feliciano
Marcus Jordan
Laura Knott
John Konstantopolous

Flute
Christopher Ludwig*
Isabel Aviles
Jolene Crossman
Olivia Browdy

Drum Set
Dean Jeffrey Moore#

 

The Flying Horse Big Band

Jeff Rupert, director

Alto saxophone: Saul Dautch, Declan Ward
Tenor saxophone: Dylan Hannan, Andy Garcia
Baritone saxophone: Kristian Rey
Trombone: Jeremiah St. John, Christian Herrera, Garrett Gauvin, Matt Kerr
Trumpet: Marco Rivera, Matt Pieper, Courtland Beyer, Randy Le Piano: Mikal Mancini
Bass: Zach Greene
Guitar: Chris Median Drums: Devon Costanza

The Flying Horse Big Band is one of the premiere performing ensembles of the UCF Music Department. It has appeared at the Montreux, Switzerland, and the North Sea Jazz Festivals, as well as numerous festival and concert appearances domestically. The band has featured Randy Brecker, Bob Berg, Michael Mossman, James Moody, Nick Brignola, Harry Allen, Steve Turre, Rodney Holmes, Terry Gibbs, Marvin Stamm, Mulgrew Miller, John Swana, Kevin Mahogany, Lou Donaldson and Eric Alexander. In 2005 the Flying Horse Big Band premiered Sam Rivers’ work for double big band, with Rivers’ RIVBEA orchestra. The group has had five recordings on the national jazz charts, including Jazz Town, The Blues is Alright, Into the Mystic, Big Man on Campus, and The Bat Swings!

Former members of the band include musicians now performing on the Grammy’s and various television shows in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville. Several others are now professors at universities around the country. The Flying Horse Big Band recordings can be found at Flyinghorserecords.com.

 

The Jazz Professors

Tenor/alto saxophone: Jeff Rupert
Piano: Per Danielsson
Guitar: Bobby Koelble
Bass: Richard Drexler
Drums: Marty Morell

Saxophonist Jeff Rupert is a YAMAHA performing artist. Performing and recording credits include associations with Diane Schuur, Mel Tormé, Kevin Mahogany, Ernestine Anderson, and Benny Carter’s Grammy winning Harlem Renaissance. Jeff Rupert toured for fifteen years with Sam Rivers; four albums ensued, and from 1997- 2002 he toured and recorded with Maynard Ferguson. Jeff Rupert’s six recordings as a leader all charted on Jazz Week. Do That Again! was #39 out of the top 100 jazz albums of 2014, and En Plein Air: The Jazz Professors play Monet charted on Jazz Week to #29. Performance venues include the Blue Note, Birdland, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, the Tokyo Forum, the National concert hall of Taipei, Taiwan, and jazz festivals in Europe, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Rupert’s latest release Let’s Sail Away with Veronica Swift, Richard Drexler and Marty Morell was #1 on the jazz charts.

As a composer and arranger, Rupert has written for Bob Berg, James Moody, Maynard Ferguson, Kenny Drew jr, Kevin Mahogany and Judy Carmichael. Rupert has produced four big band albums for the Flying Horse Big Band, all featuring original compositions and arrangements.

Jeff Rupert is a Pegasus Professor, Trustee Endowed Chair, and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Central Florida (UCF), and founder of Flying Horse Records.

 

T-Bone

Jeff “T-Bone” Gerard is a musician’s musician. He is a vocalist, trombonist and bandleader who associates with top artists and music venues in NYC. His self-titled group includes a veritable who’s-who of musical talent; Mitch Stein, Brian Dunn, Kim Plainfield, Rodney Howard, Lee Nadel, Sal Giorgiani and Jeff Rupert. His band has been a mainstay in NYC for decades with concert and club performances, and he has toured domestically and throughout Europe and North Africa. T-Bone’s vocal prowess transcends category. He sings with sensitivity beyond compare, and on a dime projects with power and clarity that would garner Barry White and Tom Jones’ curiosity. His talents have landed him on stage singing with Blood, Sweat, and Tears, and numerous other internationally acclaimed acts. As indemand studio singer, he has tracked albums, jingles, and nationally televised productions including dates for MLB. As a leader, T-Bone can be heard on “Don’t look Back” which features his original compositions and his great band. A new release by T-Bone will be going for ads in 2018. Jeff “T-Bone” Gerard epitomizes the man who values his inner voice. Not one to look for the spotlight, he remains vigilantly “off of the grid”. When he is not working he spends his time with his wife and dog George, in the cabin he built in upstate New York.

 

Veronica Swift

At age 23, Veronica Swift is now being recognized around the country as one of the top young jazz singers on the scene.

In the fall of 2015, she won second place at the prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition. In 2016 she was asked to perform a concert of her own at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York City and she was a guest artist with Michael Feinstein at Jazz at Lincoln Center with the Tedd Firth Big Band and Marilyn Maye and Freda Payne. Veronica’s first appearance at Jazz at Lincoln Center was at age 11 when she performed at the “Women in Jazz” series at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola.

In the summer of 2016 she headlined at the Telluride Jazz Festival, her 10th appearance there – but her first as a headliner. She first appeared there at age 10 with Dave Adams’ Young Razzcals Jazz Project and the great saxophonist Richie Cole and later she sang a duet with the featured artist, Paquito d’Rivera.

Veronica finished her undergraduate degree (BM in Jazz Voice) at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami in December 2016, where she was a full scholarship student. It was after that that she moved to New York City, where she almost immediately started performing every Saturday night at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club, a gig she continues to maintain when she isn’t on the road.

Veronica has been on tour with her parents, renowned jazz pianist Hod O’Brien and celebrated jazz singer and educator/author Stephanie Nakasian. She has appeared on stage with Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross, Esperanza Spalding, Joe Lovano, Bob Dorough, Kim Nazarian, Danilo Perez, and others. With her family she has appeared at The Great Waters Music Festival in NH, Blues Alley Jazz Club in DC, the Jazz Standard in NYC, the Jazz Cruise, and for the New Jersey and Hilton Head Jazz Societies.

Veronica recorded two CDs as a child – one at age 9 with Richie Cole and her father’s rhythm section and her mother, and one at age 13 with saxophonist Harry Allen.

Her 2015 Album “Lonely Woman” features some of the hottest young jazz players on the scene including Emmet Cohen, Benny Bennack III, Daryl Johns (with whom she shared the Grammy Choir/Band experience), Matt Wigler, and Scott Lowrie.

In addition to performing the Great American Songbook and Bebop and Vocalese classics, Veronica is also a passionate devotee of 20s and 30s music and has sung with Vince Giordano, Terry Waldo, and Drew Nugent.

Veronica will record her next album for release this year, which will feature the great pianist Benny Green and his trio.