Let It Ripp

The Rippingtons, rippingtons Russ Freeman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 6, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Peak Records
• ASIN: B00008W2RT
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,779 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There may not be a serious smooth jazz fan alive who, even on first hearing, wouldn't recognize the band playing the title track. Such is the compositional imprint guitarist and leader Russ Freeman has left on the genre. On the other hand, his writing style, even the way he voices his music and the overall sound of his band, has been so imitated and saturated that the Rips just being the Rips has almost become a smooth jazz cliché. This is just another Rippingtons album, but is that a bad thing? For this release, Freeman and his boys did add a real horn section, arranged by the ubiquitous Jerry Hey, instead of multi-layered keyboard pads, and on solos the band has turned the ripping up just a tad, particularly keyboardist Bill Heller on "Mr. 3." On two tracks, buried deep in the album, "Stingray" and "17 Mile Drive," the Ripps do let it rip. On those tunes, the band is saying "this is what we could do and where we can go," but on most of this album, they're saying "this is what we have to do because so many Rippingtons fans have been down this old, comfortable road with us before." --Mark Ruffin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THEY SURE LET IT RIPP!, February 27, 2004

By 

"sheltie719" (COLORADO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let It Ripp (Audio CD)

FIRST OFF THIS CD IS GREAT, IF YOU LIKE UPBEAT, UPTEMPO, WITH A LITTLE FUNKYNESS THROWN IN. PRETTY MUCH HALF OF THE CD IS MOSTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER RIPPINGTONS CD'S, AS NOT SO MUCH SMOOTH JAZZ BUT MORE UPBEAT. I THINK RUSS AND THE BOYS JUST GOT TIRED OF DOING THE SAME OLD THING AND DECIDED TO HAVE FUN. KIM STONE REALLY SHINES WITH SOME GREAT SLAP BASS AND THE OVERALL MELODIES MAKE YOU WANT TO TAP YOUR FOOT TO THE POINT OF GETTING UP AND DANCING. THERE ARE STILL SOME GREAT LATIN AND SMOOTH TRACKS THERE BUT THIS CD IS NOT FOR RELAXING WITH A GLASS OF WINE, IT'S MORE FOR A SPEEDY MOUNTAIN DRIVE WITH THE TOP DOWN. I REALLY RATE THIS CD HIGH, THOUGH IT IS A CHANGE FROM MOST OF THEIR OTHER WORK.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "this is a total trip ~ The Rippingtons", June 8, 2003

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Let It Ripp (Audio CD)

Peak Records new release from The Rippingtons "Let It Ripp", completely blows you away ~ each musician Russ Freeman (guitar/keyboards), Dave Karasony (drums), Scott Breadman (percussion), Bill Heller (keyboards), Eric Marienthal (sax) and Kim Stone (bass) totally bring smooth jazz to a higher plateau. Their sound is unmistakable, from the very first note you know you're in for a great performance with room to spare.

Entire album is a trip and a half ~ but there are some stand outs "A PRIVATE GETAWAY", with solo guitar opening by Freeman is excellent, as percussion blends a spell over the listener ~ "HIGH LIFE", gets low down with a syncopating beat penetrating through a wall of melodic avenues much like late scores from Henry Mancini ~ "BELLA LUNA", if you like flamenco guitar this one's for you ~ "STINGRAY", the opening to this track resembles the tune "Watermelon Man", great stuff ~ "CAST A SPELL", a mixture of the "X-Files" theme, as this cue does what the title states ~ "GET OVER IT", funky blues with hints of smooth as glass jazz, wonderful performance by one and all.

If you're a fan of smooth jazz and The Rippingtons, this has your name on it ~ don't pass this one up. Definitely some smokin' jazz players in this group of dedicated musicians. Stand up and take a bow on this great rhythmic, upbeat gig that will groove you with funk and mesmerize with hints of latin thrown in for good measure, gotta love it!
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Total Time: 50:23 on 11 Tracks ~ Peak Records 8514-2 ~ (5/06/2003)

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointing, May 22, 2003

By 

rkenter "rkenter" (Madras, Tamil Nadu, India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let It Ripp (Audio CD)

I am a fan of the Rippingtons since 1989. Seen numerous live concerts of them perform. Own almost all their CD's. But then, this album....with a title like LET IT RIPP.... is extremly disappointing. What happened Russ ? Barring a few songs like Private Getaway, Bella Luna & Cast a spell, the rest of the songs lack melody & direction. Russ seems to have lost a hold on this one. The instrumentation could have been much better with less/milder usage of sax & horns. Come on Russ...you are capable of something much better than this.