Home » Jazz Musicians » The Jazz Professors

The Jazz Professors

The Jazz Professors are a top-charting (JazzWeek) sextet composed of real professors from the rising star in music education, the program in Jazz Studies at the University of Central Florida (UCF).

Professors who also play professionally throughout the year, the group has made several changes over the years since 2009, but currently the roster includes: Director of Jazz Studies, saxophonist Jeff Rupert, legendary drummer Marty Morell, best known for his work with the Bill Evans trio, bassist Richard Drexler of the Jeff Berlin Trio, pianist Per Danielsson, guitarist Bobby Koelble, and the more recent addition of trombonist Michael Wilkinson bring wide ranging experience from many wellsprings of the music together into an impressive whole.

The group performs with guest artists and orchestras, most notably Kenny Drew Jr. and Michael Philip Mossman

The combo has released two albums on the University's new label, Flying Horse Records. Their first "Live from the UCF Orlando Jazz Festival" charted into the top 20 (Jazzweek). Their most recent offering, "Do That Again" soared to No. 6 on the JazzWeek charts in the spring of 2013.

One of the things that makes the UCF Jazz program one of the fastest-rising in jazz music education is that these musicians both teach and play so well together.

"I think, if you're going to teach them how to play well in a combo, you have to walk the walk," says Jeff Rupert, who is the Director of Jazz Studies at UCF.

The group benefits from having talented composers and arrangers in saxophonist, composer and arranger Jeff Rupert, multi- instrumentalist, composer and arranger Richard Drexler, and pianist, composer and arranger Per Danielsson.

Awards

Top 10 album - Jazz Week - April 2013


Tags

39
Album Review

The Jazz Professors: Blues and Cubes

Read "Blues and Cubes" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Yes, the Florida-based Jazz Professors, as befits the name, are smart—but don't let that throw you. They also swing in the best jazz tradition, even though their fourth album, Blues and Cubes, was inspired by the art of Pablo Picasso. Unlike Picasso's works, however, there is scant abstraction here; the Professors embody far more bop than bemusement, more Blue Note than bohemian. As for day gigs, the Professors maintain theirs at the University of Central Florida in ...

5
Extended Analysis

The Jazz Professors: Live from the UCF-Orlando Jazz Festival / Do That Again

Read "The Jazz Professors: Live from the UCF-Orlando Jazz Festival / Do That Again" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The Jazz Professors aren't wearing any hats they don't own; the fact is, they really are Professors in the Jazz Studies program at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Instead of letting the students have all the fun, however, the Professors have recorded three albums of their own, the second Live from UCF-Orlando Jazz Festival, the third and most recent Do That Again, this one in a studio. Lest anyone assume these are “vanity" enterprises, it should be noted ...

Read more articles
Primary Instrument

Various

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

All of the Jazz Professors teach at the University of Central Florida. Jeff Rupert is the Director of Jazz Studies, teaches saxophone for a small number of private students from the program, directs the Flying Horse Big Band and teaches other courses at UCF. Richard Drexler teaches Jazz bass and works with the student combos, and teaches other courses.; Per Danielsson teaches Jazz piano, works with student combos, and teaches other courses; Marty Morell teaches Jazz and concert percussion; Bobby Koelble teaches Jazz guitar; Michael Wilkinson teaches trombone for Jazz and concert.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Read more

Music

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.