Life in the Tropics

The Rippingtons

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 10, 2000)
• Original Release Date: October 10, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Peak Records
• ASIN: B00004Z42V
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,676 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When Russ Freeman and the Rippingtons exploded on the contemporary jazz scene in 1986 with Moonlighting, the leader's compositional and production style was a breath of fresh air. Over the next decade, however, his much-copied style became a parody of itself and the epitome of the tepid music associated with smooth-jazz radio. After a couple of record label changes, Freeman seems to have regrouped somewhat with Life in the Tropics. Although the first two tracks offer the same Rips formula of a guitar and/or sax line playing a line with computer-generated rhythms behind synthesizer flourishes adding up to nothing special, cuts 3 through 11 show Freeman searching for a new aural core to his style, a lot of which has to do with the Latin and Caribbean themes of the disc. In fact, "South Beach Mambo" sounds straight out of Santana's Supernatural sessions with a horn section adding spice. Saxman Eric Marienthal and pianist Bill Heller stand out, as does trumpeter Ramon Flores. The latter's horn stands particularly since it isn't the smooth-jazz clichéd alto horn sound that the Rippingtons made infamous. Keyboardist Bob James also does a guest shot on what is easily the Rippingtons' best album since 1994's Sahara. --Mark A. Ruffin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Always a pleasure, but missing some of the edge, October 14, 2000

By	Charlie Peterson (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rippingtons Throw A Tropical Party, October 10, 2000

By	Bob Biz (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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?

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good to hear, but not their best, October 10, 2000

By	K. Bortz "fins up!" (Delmont, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!!!