The Flying Horse Big Band

The Flying Horse Big Band is one of the premier performing ensembles of the University of Central Florida. Under the direction of American saxophonist Jeff Rupert, 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, George Garzone, Nick Brignola, Harry Allen, Steve Turre, Rodney Holmes, Terry Gibbs, Marvin Stamm, Mulgrew Miller, John Swana, Kevin Mahogany, Lou Donaldson and Eric Alexander.

In 2011, the Flying Horse Big Band’s debut album Jazz Town climbed to 43 on the JazzWeek chart, and the band has been hitting national jazz charts ever since. Their 2012 release, The Blues is Alright topped out at 35 on JazzWeek’s chart. Subsequent recordings include The Blues is Alright (2012), Into the Mystic (2015), Big Man on Campus (2017), The Bat Swings (2018), Good News (2019), and Florida Rays (2020). In 2023, the band released A Message from the Flying Horse Big Band as a tribute to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.

Three of their albums, Bat Swings!, Florida Rays and Good News! have reached #1 on national jazz album radio play charts.