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THE RIPPINGTONS
Life In The Tropics (Peak Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale
The cover proclaims that this effort is by the Rippingtons "featuring Russ Freeman." Duh. As the only surviving original member of a group well into its second decade, Freeman is not only a featured player, he's the principle composer and producer (as in "Produced by Russ Freeman for Russ Freeman Productions"). While the band is officially a quintet, there are a total of fourteen "special guests" appearing on Life In The Tropics, the Rippingtons' first release on Peak. The one thing you know for sure is that the guitar and/or keyboard work of Russ Freeman will figure prominently on a Russ Freeman composition produced by Russ Freeman almost every time you hear a song billed to the Rippingtons. So, yeah, he's featured. The question is, is that a good thing?
Mostly. Freeman is a very talented player, as are those he surrounds himself with. As a composer, he's one of the founding fathers and most influential figures in the smooth jazz (he prefers the term "contemporary jazz") field. So influential, in fact, that most of what you'll hear when you turn your dial to your local smooth jazz station will sound very much like the Rippingtons. Some of it will even be the Rippingtons, but most of it will sound like them. And most of it will be every bit as impeccably played as everything you'll hear on Life In The Tropics. And therein lies a big part of the problem with the genre, if not with this disc in particular.
Jazz is, if nothing else, an improvisational music. Improvisation implies risk, and part of that risk is the risk of not playing every note impeccably. Smooth jazz, on the other hand, is a sound built on the impeccable play of men like Russ Freeman. Freeman is indeed a technically proficient, and usually very tasteful, musician. But he ain't a jazzman, folks, not in this context, no matter what he says in his FAQ.
On the other hand, if you're looking for some instrumental background pop, this one, with a slight Caribbean flavor, is done as well as such things can be done, as is sure to delight fans of the genre.
Track List:
Club Paradiso * Caribbean Breeze * Cruisin' Down Ocean Drive * Be Cool * Rhythm Of Your Life * Love Child * Avenida Del Mar * I Found Heaven * South Beach Mambo * Life In The Tropics * Island Aphrodisiac
© 2001 - Shaun Dale