Customer Reviews

Life in the Tropics

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have been an outspoken fan of Russ Freeman and the Rippingtons for five years now, and when I heard "Brave New World" (1996) for the first time, I was blown away. There was a hard edge to most of the songs, and, upon further investigation, many of the earlier albums did as well. In the year between the release of "Brave New World" and "Black Diamond", I listened to all the previous Ripps albums, and was equally impressed. Definitely some smokin' jazz players. However, with the introduction of the electronica loops on "Black Diamond", it seemed like some of the edge had been watered down by milkier changes and the safety net of technology. Fans: compare a track like "Love Child" on the new one, with its smooth-jazz bedroom feel, to a track like "Avenida Del Mar" or "Cicada" from "Brave New World". A world of difference. The latter two possess that edge and complexity that many have come to identify the Rippingtons by, and, as a fan and musician, that's what I look for. "Life In The Tropics" is every bit a Ripps album, and I was pleased with what I heard. As has been stated in other reviews, possibly a bit too "smooth-jazz"y at times, but nonetheless, a quality effort. Russ, if you're reading this, keep that hard drivin', edgy, chordally-complex stuff coming, and you've got a fan for life.

Let the partying begin! The Rippingtons return on yet another new record label but this time it's on Russ Freeman's Peak Records. Russ has written a "hot" bunch of songs that fuse the confidence of his band The Rippingtons and many of my favorite contemporary jazz stars. "Club Paradiso" starts things off with Eric Marienthal giving the chorus a buoyant little swing. "Caribbean Breeze" has a flamenco feel to it and is punctuated by Peter White on classical guitar. Elsewhere "Be Cool" has a happy vibe with a killer hook by saxophonist Dave Koz. From there, the tempo heats up on the Latin spiced "Rhythm of Your Life" featuring lead vocals by Daisy Lourdes Villa, the burning "Avenida Del Mar" and the festive "South Beach Mambo". And for more of a cool groove, there's the title track featuring Bob James on keyboards and "I Found Heaven" with vocals by R&B emissary Howard Hewitt. Something for everyone...the album will please old Ripps fans and is sure to attract new ones. I'm ready for a Life in the Tropics, are you?

Let's just say that The Rippingtons of 1995 and earlier were a spectacular band, and then they began to succomb to the "smooth jazz" sound - you know, that syncopated hip-hoppy lite jazz with no guts. 8 or so of the 11 songs on this album fall into that mode. Granted, it's nice to hear, but it isn't a "wow, is that great!" The one or two songs with electric guitar do stand out with their energy. Now for the album itself, and not the overall sound. Like the title track says, the songs invoke tropical rhythms and sounds - lots of background percussion including nice conga parts, timbales, and rain sticks. Some of the songs, including those that rock the most, are Latin-flavored (the Gloria Estefan-styled vocals of Daisy Lourdes Villa on "Rhythm of Your Life" and the great guitar-driven "Avenida Del Mar"). Howard Hewitt does a great vocal on "I Found Heaven", and "South Beach Mambo" is fun. But the rest is that acoustic-guitar lite jazz. Russ Freeman writes great melodies and I love his songs, but LET LOOSE and JAM!!!

I am fairly new to the Rippingtons so I can't compare this album to any of their others as many other reviewers here can.

Perhaps it's not the best that they have ever done but I love the sound and I love some of the tracks. In particular, Love Child - such a great song I would buy the CD just for this track. Listen to this track a few times if you're in any doubt whether to buy.

The other really great track is South Beach Mambo... The trumpet solo is so hot that I get goose bumps... if that makes sense?

The other tracks off the album fall somewhere in between these two songs and styles.

If this is an example of mediocre Rippingtons, I can't wait to hear some of the other albums.

It's a solid 3 star album with a couple of tracks really giving it a 4.

GREAT JOB!!! This is a great, rhythmic release musically, and sonically a 'reference quality' gem. ALL the songs here are tight, lush, perky, upbeat numbers that have a good amount of funk, groove, and latin personality to them. The vocals on a few songs are heartfelt and gorgeous as well! Again, sonically, this is a phenomenal CD! One can tell that top notch care and studio techniques went into the recording and mastering of this quality CD. More record companies should follow suit. If you really want to be blown away, play it on a high-end stereo system with revealing planar (Magneplanar) or Electrostat (Martin-Logan, Quad) speakers, but make sure you are wearing your 'depends', given the sudden aural joy you will experience!!!

If you don't like Rippingtons you surely won't like this album and that's ok of course but eventually you don't like any album from Russ Freeman. When you say "I don't like Russ Freeman music" that's it, you don't have to specify that you didn't like Life in the Tropics. But if you're into Russ's music I think that you have to like this one because it is one of the best Ripp's albums to date. It's one of the best example of the Russ Freeman way of composing and presenting music. Sure it is commercial music, nothing really serious, like all light jazz music is by the way. With this album Russ simply want to give you enjoyment and create a nice relaxed atmosphere with good quality music. The good thing is that Russ always succeed in this attempt and in this case too! Life in the tropics is very balanced as some of the best ripp's albums like Sahara or Black Diamond. It has nice instrumentals, a couple of very good vocal tracks, some more calm moments and some more energetic ones. It is balanced and very well written, arranged, played and recorded as any other ripp's album by the way. It is a very very good album in it's genre. If you don't like the genre that's another story of course and it's perfectly ok. But my advice is. Take the best from each genre. You don't have to lock yourself inside one single genre. Why limitate ourselves? Music, when it's very well written and played it is always good. No matter the genre. Even in the case of a less noble genre like light jazz. But the music should be good. This is the case.

I am a fan of Rippingtons - A big fan. As soon I saw this recording, I bought it withouth listening to samples. Well, we all know Rippingtons are somehow 'commercial', BUT: they've always have got that sound, the sound that would be the perfection on a sunset driving a cabriolet, the light jazzy feeling, the guitar so nice and the fusion of the Band.

But this...

First song is the same song that appears in the last Rips albums: not bad, but same song third time (at least it's Rips music) The rest is the very delusion: Mexico, Santana, all this that "sells"; like George Benson (listen to laste record), it't time for southamerican, let's go for it!!! Well, in this case I want Santana - It's good and it's himself.

Get back on track Russ, play YOUR music like only you can do !!

As far as contemporary jazz goes, this album is typical Rippingtons! It is enhanced by the addition of exemplary artists including Peter White and Dave Koz. There IS something for everyone on this album and it exudes true Southern California life-style with shades of tropical and Latin grooves that is reminiscent of Santana. All you need with this CD is a drink with a little umbrella and you have an instant vacation. The Rippingtons are not known as an R&B band. They are pure L.A. sound. R&B reviewers need to know the difference. Russ Freeman has once again produced a FINE selection of pure free-spirited fun which makes me homesick for Southern Cal.

It's still hard to compare later recordings with some of Freeman's earliest works, but "Life in the Tropics" certainly is one of the best Rippingtons albums in quite some time. Fans of the group will love it.

After some final tepid recordings for the GRP label in the mid 90s, the group rebounded with inspired albums for Windham Hill before really picking up steam with this Concord work. Although a winter release - and worthy of year-round play - it certainly exudes a summertime flavor. Highly recommended for contemporary jazz fans.

Hey guys, come on lighten up ... this is the Ripps these guys are great and dont deserve such a hard time.

Life in the Tropics is the latest in a succession of wonderful albums and demonstrates Russ Freeman's talent for surviving the test of time. With almost 15 years tucked under their belt and some 14 odd superb albums the boys (despite numerous band member changes) are still knocking out that great beat.

I'm quite passionate about jazz guitar and I love The Rippingtons Spanish/Latino feel. And the album does of course feature a star studded cast in support including the likes of Bob James, Peter White, Eric Marienthal and Dave Koz.

A superb album to the very last drop and the best money you'll ever spend on an cd - great boogying around the hi-fi fun !!!