For those not in the know, The Flying Horse Big Band is the premier performing ensemble of the University of Central Florida’s jazz studies program, directed by saxophonist Jeff Rupert.

The student band, originally known as the UCF Jazz Ensemble 1, was renamed in 2013 and has released several acclaimed albums that have appeared on national jazz charts, with some reaching number one.

They have performed at major jazz festivals and have featured numerous guest artists, including Randy Brecker, George Garzone, and Kevin Mahogany.

The band has released multiple albums, including Jazz Town (2011), The Blues is Alright (2012), and A Message from the Flying Horse Big Band (2023). Several albums have reached the top of national jazz radio airplay charts, such as The Bat Swings and Good News.

And now we are gifted a brand new album from them entitled Unbridled and this one also features George Garzone on four tracks that push the envelope of big band jazz and jazz improvisation.

Garzone is a founder of Boston-based trio The Fringe, the longest running jazz group in history, and he brings swinging avant-garde flair to the Flying Horse Big Band.

1. Giant Steps (04:36)
2. Pharoah’s Daughter (08:05)
3. Chasin’ Tail (04:04)
4. Reflections (04:36)
5. It Gets Better (05:08)
6. View of Heaven (06:09)
7. Impressions (04:47)

On an album where each and every track is just pure musical enjoyment, up first is the spirited, veritably cinematic fare of Giant Steps and the luxuriantly Eastern flavored Pharoah’s Daughter, and then we get the furtively gainful Chasin’ Tail, the sheer decadence of Reflections, the warmly comforting It Gets Better, the set rounding out on the emphatically driven confidence of View of Heaven, coming to a close on the skittish beauty of Impressions.