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The Rippingtons, the band that pretty much defined 'smooth' in jazz, to play Tangier
By Malcolm X Abram
Beacon Journal music writer
Published on Thursday, Oct 25, 2007
Surviving for more than 20 years in the music business is quite an accomplishment.
Thriving for more than 20 years in the music business is a rarity.
Being a pioneer of an entire genre of music is impressive, and that's what Russ Freeman has done.
Freeman is the guitarist/songwriter/producer/mastermind behind the ''smooth jazz'' band the Rippingtons.
Beginning with Moonlighting in 1986, Freeman and a revolving band of musicians have released 16 albums (including two live albums) of pleasant, jazz-flavored pop grooves that across the years have incorporated a variety of styles, from funk and rock to American Indian and Latin.
The band's music emphasizes catchy, hummable pop melodies that go down easy and grooves to which you can tap your foot.
The band, which will perform two shows Friday night at Tangier, was called ''contemporary'' and ''smooth'' jazz, before either designation had its own bin at your local record store.
Whatever you call the soothing and groove-heavy music, it has touched many people, and Freeman has accrued a large and loyal fan base always waiting for the next Rippingtons album.
The most recent album, 20th Anniversary, celebrates the band's birthday, but not in the usual fashion. Rather than release a backward-looking compilation filled with past hits, Freeman wrote a batch of new material and invited former band members and guests artists several of whom left the band to have their own successful solo careers to play these new tunes.
''I was interested to see how the people from the very first album and really all the people we've worked with over the years had evolved as musicians,'' Freeman said in a telephone interview from his Florida home.
That list is long and includes now solo artists such as pianist David Benoit and saxophonists Kenny G, Jeff Kashiwa and Eric Marinthal. The band's past guest list is equally impressive, with vocalists Jeffery Osbourne, Patti Austin and Brian McKnight, (all of whom appear on 20th Anniversary), as well as players such as Arturo Sandoval, Dave Koz and Dave Grusin.
''I thought that the most interesting thing for me was revisiting not only the players, but how they would reinterpret the music we would play. I tried to find a balance some older material which just became a medley of some of our big hits,'' Freeman said. ''Of course, I'm friends with all these people, so it was fun to get back together and revisit this.''
The 11 tracks on the album (including the medley) contain healthy heapings of what fans love about the band. Songs such as the bouncy City of Angels, the ballad Eternity, featuring Freeman's classical guitar playing, and the breezy Latin grooves of Costa Del Sol, with a lovely acoustic piano solo from Benoit, should keep fans relaxed and happy.
Keeping fans happy is something of which Freeman is acutely aware, and he gives the band's loyal fan base plenty of credit when talking about the Rippingtons' success.
Freeman also doesn't subscribe to the unwritten rules of smooth jazz marketing that dictate an artist must make tame, nearly flavorless albums and wait to punch up the music on the road.
''I would like to see a little more evolution of the music. I think sometimes (smooth jazz albums) can be safe sounding, and that's to its detriment,'' he said.
''Music constantly has to change and it has to take chances. When you do take chances musically, the audience is rewarded, and they love to see new combinations of people working together and they love to see the energy.''
Freeman, who writes all of the band songs, said he has received plenty of inspiration from the audience and his band members. He said he often writes tunes to capitalize on the strengths of whoever is in the band at the time.
When the band hits the road, Freeman welcomes members' input on the set list and which songs are making the biggest impact on the audience. And, with 16 albums of material from which to choose, the set list, like the band, is always changing.
Friday's shows at Tangier will be the first night of the latest leg of the tour, which means Northeast Ohio fans will get a fresh and rested band and probably a few surprises in the set list.
''Generally before a new leg of the tour, we'll say, let's revisit some of these old songs, and we get on the road and add new songs to keep it interesting for the band,'' Freeman said. ''We'll change arrangements or open up sections for improvisation, and we do a lot of medleys now because we have so many songs. We actually have an acoustic medley that the band insists on playing every night and the crowd loves it and we like to play what the crowd responds to as well.''
Though looking back has been interesting for Freeman, moving forward is what he and the Rippingtons are all about. He already has plans to take the band into the studio early next year for a 2009 release.
After 20 years, Freeman isn't exactly sure what has given the band such staying power, but he knows that fan loyalty is vital and increasingly rare in today's consume-and-discard culture.
''I think all you can do is put out the best quality music you're capable of and fans really respond to live energy. They respond to interaction, so we always have a kind of high energy sound,'' he said.
''They've gotten older, but I'm always amazed at how many people say they've been with us since the beginning.
''That's a blessing.''
Malcolm X Abram can be reached at mabram@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3758.
Surviving for more than 20 years in the music business is quite an accomplishment.
Get the full article here.
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