Smooth jazz stalwarts
the Rippingtons infuse their trademark brand of instrumental pop with a Latin aesthetic on
Wild Card. Once again featuring the lead guitar of
Russ Freeman,
the Rippingtons deliver a solid collection of mellow contemporary pop and lite jazz that should please longtime fans. Evenly split between R&B-inflected cuts such as the
Aretha Franklin hit "Till You Come Back to Me" and Latin tracks including the flamenco-inspired "Spanish Girl" and the salsa-ready "Mulata di Mi Amor,"
Wild Card is a pleasant listen. ~ Matt Collar