The ultimate contemporary jazz hyphenate
Russ Freeman (guitarist/arranger/producer/keyboardist/composer) became one of smooth jazz's most influential artists through magnificent projects like this one, chosen by Jazziz as the best contemporary jazz album of all time. This third Ripps release is a masterpiece of mouthwatering pop-jazz tunes, featuring strong hooks, gorgeous texturing, and styles ranging from tropical (the sunny "Aruba" featuring
Rob Mullins on keys and
Carl Anderson scatting away) and Brazilian ("One Summer Night in Brazil,"
Freeman's lush centerpiece) to soulful (a cover of
Al Green's "Let's Stay Together") and rockin' (the locomotive "Earthbound," which shows
Freeman's strings at their frenzied peak). But there's more to the tourist story -- there's also the bounce of bassist
Steve Bailey, the boom of drummer
Tony Morales, and the light exoticism of
Steve Reid's soundscapes.
The Rippingtons hit more peaks than valleys as the '90s unfolded, and
Freeman expanded his scope beyond simple pop-jazz, but this one still sets the standard for smooth jazz. ~ Jonathan Widran