Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Flying Horse Big Band: Big Man on Campus

3

Flying Horse Big Band: Big Man on Campus

By

Sign in to view read count
Flying Horse Big Band: Big Man on Campus
The Big Man on Campus on the fifth recording by the University of Central Florida's dexterous Flying Horse Big Band is composer / arranger / tenor saxophonist Harry Allen who wrote and arranged five of the album's eleven numbers and solos brightly on seven including Henry Mancini's amiable "Dreamsville," Billy Strayhorn's happy-go-lucky "Raincheck" and Antonio Carlos Jobim's amorous "Triste."

The band's music director, Jeff Rupert, composed and arranged the shuffling "B.M.O.C." and picturesque "New Creole Love Call," Michael Philip Mossman the invigorating "Partido Blue." Completing the program is Alan Hawkshaw's gritty "Move, Move, Move" (underlined by Mudel Honore's dancing Hammond organ). Allen's "Can You Love Once More?" sways to a charming Latin beat, as do "Triste" and "Partido Blue" (the last taken at a moderately faster tempo complete with whistle and other sound effects). Allen also wrote and arranged the lyrical waltz "June Song," the jaunty "This Is My Lucky Day" (not the standard of the same name)," the aptly named "Lonely Breeze" and "The One for You," which scurries breezily along, Basie style, with Honore's organ once again setting the pace.

Besides Allen, soloists of note include trumpeters Alex Lewis (flugelhorn on "Creole Love Call") and Josh Toler, alto Josh Stribling, tenors Andy Garcia and Gabriel Wallace, trombonists Lentzy Jean-Louis and Christian Herrera (both on "Raincheck") and guitarist Ryan Waszmer. Rupert made sure the FHBB was well-rehearsed and ready to soar, and there are no audible missteps to report (bassist Luther Burke is outstanding on "Raincheck"). Those who have heard Allen before will know pretty much what to expect from that precinct, as he is one of the Big Three among American neo-swing saxophonists alongside Scott Hamilton and Ken Peplowski. Eloquent and at ease in any context, Allen is especially captivating on "June Song," "Lucky Day" and "Raincheck."

Big Man or no, the UCF campus was rocking when Harry Allen came to town, a notion that is clearly affirmed by this splendid recording. Kudos to everyone involved.

Album information

Title: Big Man on Campus | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Flying Horse Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.