CD Review: A Message From The Flying Horse Big Band

I have followed the The Flying Horse Big Band and their super talented musical director Jeff Rupert for a long time and they never disappoint.  They have just released their 8th CD, "A Message From The Flying Horse Big Band" and it's a four-star winning "straight ahead" Jazz album.  The focus of this new CD is on the style of music performed by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messenger.`  All the songs on this CD were composed by Jazz Messenger members.  The Jazz Messengers group was formed in 1947 by Drummer Art Blakey and really shot into high public attention when Trumpeter Horace Silver joined the group in the mid-fifties.  Blakey and Silver were at the forefront of developing Bebop music while incorporating elements of rhythm and blues and soul music.  The Jazz Messenger members who composed songs on this CD reads like a list of Jazz giants out of a Jazz history book: Horace Silver, Benny Golson, Wayne Shorter, Cedar Walton and Hank Mobley.

Sadly, Jazz lovers don't get to hear this kind of big band music and arrangements much these days.  However, even someone new to Jazz would quickly recognize that the sound of this music and  arrangements are special.  I want to thank Jeff Rupert and the "The Flying Horse Big Band" for producing this amazing new CD.  You are helping the new generation to discover how good this kind of music is!

I also have to mention the high quality of professional players that perform this wonderful music on this CD.  The full group is listed below and each one of the players are at the top of their musical game and contribute to the superb music on this CD. 

PLAYLIST:

1. Free For All

2. Hipsippy Blues

3. Room 608

4. This Is For Albert

5. Mosaic

6. Peace

7. Gregory Is Here

8. Lester Left Town

9. Whisper Not

10. On the Ginza

PLAYERS:

Saxophones:

    Paul Van Wormer- Lead Alto (Solo Tracks 4,7,10)

    Micah Silverstein- 2nnd Alto (Solo Track 9)

    Edmund "Quint"- Johnson Lead Tenor (Solo tracks 1,3,5,6,8,9)

    Steven Grant- 2nd Tenor (Solo track 2)

    Noan Mosca- Baritone

Rhythm Section:

    Jack Hoag- Piano and Fender Rhodes

    Noah Charles- Guitar (Solo tracks 3,7,8)

    Michael Santos- Bass

    James Fortune-  Drum Set (tracks 1,2,5,8,9)

    Jamesly Jean-Mary- Drum set ( tracks 3,4,6,7,10) and Congas (track 2)

Trumpets & Flugelhorns:

    Josh Mercado- (Solo tracks 1,2,3,5,6,10)

    Adam Zapf-

    Robert Schmidt

    Phebe Rich

    Elijah Simmons

Trombones:

    Dan Parish (Solo tracks 4,6,7)

    Ralph Rodriguez

    Gabe Funk

    Ben Fuller- Bass Trombone

 

I have attached two "YouTube" videos from "A Message From The Flying Horse Big Band".  The first song is a Wayne Shorter composition that was arranged by former Jazz Messenger, Michael Mossman.  It's swinging and hot!  The second song was composed by Hank Mobley with a great arrangement by Harry Allen.  It doesn't matter if you are a Jazz Messenger fan or new to this kind of music, if you love Jazz you will love these songs and this CD!

                                                                   " Free For All"

                                                                        "Hipsippy Blues"