by Joseph Lang
The spirit of Ray Charles imbues the music on Florida Rays (Flying Horse Records – 080420) a tribute to Charles by THE FLYING HORSE BIG BAND, the jazz band at the University of Central Florida led by Jeff Rupert. This outstanding student ensemble is supplemented on various tracks by vocalists Rob Paparozzi, who also adds his harmonica on the six tracks on which he appears, Vince Villastrigo, DaVonda Simmons and Khristian Dentley. They address tunes such as “One Mint Julep,” “Hallelujah I Love Her So,” “What’d I Say,” “You Don’t Know Me,” “Busted” and “Unchain My Heart.” The band, filled with sparkling soloists, simply nails the fine arrangements of Rupert, Harry Allen, Per Danielsson, Michael Philip Mossman, Mark Taylor and Richard Drexler. The Flying Horse crew has produced another winner! (flyinghorserecords.com)
