FREE Event w/ VIP Food & Wine Upgrade
to Benefit Youth Education
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| Photo of Gerald Albright by Brandon Albright / SnowDesertProductions.com |
Preston Rupert Quartet
Ocoee High School Jazz Band
Friday, March 19, 2027 | 6:00–10:00 PM
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HAPCO Jazz Fest Ocoee returns on March 19, 2027, presenting an evening of live music led by saxophonist Gerald Albright, joined by the Preston Rupert Quartet and the Ocoee High School Jazz Band. The outdoor concert is free and open to the public.
Gerald Albright
Gerald Albright has built a wide-ranging career as a saxophonist, bassist, composer and producer, bringing together contemporary jazz, R&B, funk and soul. The Los Angeles native first gained national recognition while working with pianist and vocalist Patrice Rushen. He subsequently performed or recorded with artists including Anita Baker, Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, The Temptations, Chaka Khan and Jonathan Butler.
A nine-time GRAMMY Award nominee, Albright has received recognition for solo recordings including Bermuda Nights, New Beginnings, Sax for Stax, Pushing the Envelope and Slam Dunk. His collaborative projects include 24/7 with guitarist Norman Brown and Dave Koz’s Summer Horns, featuring Albright, Mindi Abair and Richard Elliot. Across more than three decades as a recording artist, Albright has developed an immediately recognizable sound marked by rhythmic drive, melodic clarity and strong connections to R&B and soul.
Preston Rupert Quartet
Central Florida trumpeter Preston Rupert represents a new generation of jazz musicians. Raised in a musical family, Rupert began participating in HAPCO educational programs while still a young student. His early development included an opportunity to study with acclaimed trumpeter and educator Wycliffe Gordon at HAPCO Summer Jazz Camp.
Rupert moved to New York City in 2024 to continue his musical studies at The Juilliard School. His performance experience has taken him from Central Florida stages to internationally recognized venues including Carnegie Hall in New York, Royal Albert Hall in London and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. He has also performed with Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra Jazz program. At HAPCO Jazz Fest Ocoee, Rupert returns to the community where some of his formative jazz education and performance experiences took place, this time leading his own quartet.
Ocoee High School Jazz Band
The Ocoee High School Jazz Band brings the festival’s student-performance component to the program. Its appearance places developing local musicians on the same stage as an internationally established recording artist and a young Central Florida musician pursuing advanced jazz studies. The pairing reflects HAPCO’s continuing work to connect students with music education, professional artists and live-performance opportunities.
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Picnic baskets are welcome. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at the general admission event. Free parking is available on site.
Hosted by the HAPCO Music Foundation in partnership with the City of Ocoee, the festival supports youth education programs in music and the arts.
About the City of Ocoee
Founded May 13, 1925, Ocoee is a growing Central Florida community with a population of more than 51,000 residents. Located near major transportation routes, the city continues to expand as a residential and business center in Orange County.
About HAPCO
Since 2001, HAPCO has provided programs that support youth development through music, arts, and education. Offerings include master classes, scholarships, performance opportunities, and community outreach initiatives. Additional programs focus on culinary education and nutrition awareness within underserved communities.
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