Black Diamond

The Rippingtons | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Windham Hill Records
• ASIN: B000000NNK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,269 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #58 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Smooth Jazz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Rippingtons Album Yet, November 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Black Diamond (Audio CD)

Jazz nowadays is a broad term encompassing anything from dissonant be-bop to easy listening background music. Like it or not, the Rippingtons play a form of jazz--and people enjoy it as such.

Critics may look down thier noses at this type of music and I don't know why. Perhaps it lacks the unstructured feel and spontaneity attributed to "traditional" jazz (whatever that may be) which they feel compelled to compare this to. This is quite unfair.

Notice that all Ripppingtons albums read "The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman." Russ Freeman, the leader and guitarist of the group, writes the songs and enlists the help of an outstanding group of musicians to play these songs. That's why the "official reviewer's" potshot that only one other original member remains on this album doesn't hold any weight. The Rippingtons were never so much about a band as they were about Russ Freeman and his song writing.

As such, let's judge this album on the merits of it's songs. Coherent structure, catchy hooks, nice phrasing, great instrumental licks, nicely produced... a fine product. Hey, up-tempo, hard jazz it's not, but then again it's not claiming to be.

This is a great, great Rippingtons album to kick back and relax to. Don't let anyone (ESPECIALLY snooty critics) dissuade you from enjoying this type of music, and specifically, BLACK DIAMOND!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT A DIAMOND - AN ABSOLUTE LITTLE GEM !!!, August 8, 2000

By 

H. J. Sandford "jazzyjaney" (Yorkshire, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Diamond (Audio CD)

You dont need fancy articulate words to describe this album - quite simply put its pure talent!! I rather suspect there are many copies of this album around the world currently being played to death. The variety of musical style is the making of this cd but I personally adore the latino/spanish influence. Its music really does get under your skin and its so heart warming to see such a wonderfully structured album. My heartfelt thanks go to Roger for introducing me to the delights of a superb group and I now look forward to collecting more of their work.

Dont hesitate to buy this album, I cant possibly comprehend how it could fail to please.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back to the good times, February 2, 2004

By 

derrotista (Cadiz, Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Diamond (Audio CD)

This was my first studio album of the Ripp's and I consider it in the top three of their career. In fact, I think Russ hasn't done it better after Black Diamond.

Of course the sound is dramatically improved, as they moved to another company, Windham Hill which is very close to New Age. But the thing is that the material is diverse, smooth and rich. With the exception of "If I owned the world" (Ripp's shouldn't go into vocal experiences), the album has only GOOD music.

"Black Diamond" and "Jewel Thieves" got a great melody, "Soul Seeker" and "In Another Life" can really be described as SMOOTH, "Angelfire" is a surprise and a latin masterpiece.

Rippingtons are back here to the quality and the punch of late 80's and first 90's albums (Curves Ahead, Saint James' Club,...). And it sound really new. A must-have.