The 2025 - 2026 CONCERT SEASON kicked off with the JEFF RUPERT QUARTET. Rupert was backed by RICHARD DREXLER on piano, DOUG MATHEWS on bass and MARTY MORELL on drums.
Jeff Rupert is the Director of Jazz Studies at UCF, saxophonist, composer, record producer, and recording artist. He has been a featured soloist on dozens of recordings with artists including Sam Rivers, Mel Tormé, Diane Schuur, Benny Carter, and Maynard Ferguson. His recording "The Ripple" with legendary saxophonist George Garzone was released in September 2019. He played on Benny Carter's Harlem Renaissance which won a Grammy. He has also performed with Kevin Mahogany, Ernestine Anderson, Joe Farnsworth, Ray Drummond, Harry Allen, pianist Benny Green, Kenny Drew Jr, trumpeter Michael Philip Mossman, and pianist and singer Judy Carmichael.
In 2024, Rupert released "It Gets Better," which has been praised for its classic jazz style and strong musical arrangements. His work continues to influence both students and the broader jazz community. Rupert has several releases under his own name including "Lets Sail Away" with Veronica Swift, "Imagination" and "R&D" with pianist Richard Drexler. Rupert is the leader of The Jazz Professors, a sextet that had top JazzWeek charting hit albums in 2012-2015. "The Jazz Professors: Live at the UCF-Orlando Jazz Festival" peaked at #19 during its seventeen weeks on the JazzWeek charts. His third album, "From Memphis to Mobile" was with Kenny Drew, Jr.
Rupert joined Sam Rivers' band in 1996 and appeared in four recordings with the group. He has performed in hundreds of concerts with Rivers, including performances at Lincoln for Ed Bradley's Jazz from Lincoln Center (broadcast on NPR), the Vision Festival NYC and Columbia University. He has been a member of the Jaguar International Jazz Series alongside Joe LaBarbera, Tom Wharington, Larry Koonse, and John Fedchock. He also performed with Michael Philip Mossman and John Riley at the Taipei National Concert Hall, Taiwan.
Rupert has played at jazz festivals around the world, with dates in Europe, Scandinavia, Japan, Taiwan, Israel, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Rupert also leads The "Flying Horse Big Band," one of the premiere performing ensembles of the UCF Music Department. They have 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 with the band. In 2005, the "Flying Horse Big Band" premiered Sam Rivers’ work for double big band, with Rivers’ RIVBEA orchestra. The group has had six recordings on the national jazz charts. Recordings include "Jazz Town", "The Blues is Alright", "Into the Mystic", "Big Man on Campus", "The Bat Swings!", and "Florida Rays". The last two albums climbed to #1 on the national (professional) jazz charts.
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