The Rippingtons were an American contemporary jazz group, mainly relating to the genres smooth jazz, jazz fusion, jazz pop, and crossover jazz. Formed in 1985 by guitarist and band leader Russ Freeman, their career has spanned more than three decades. With a revolving door of musicians, Freeman has been the only consistent member.

Many of their songs have been featured in the "Local on the 8s" forecast segments on The Weather Channel. The band's mascot is a grinning, sunglasses-wearing jazz cat, which appears in the artwork of all the band's releases and on their official website.

Current members

  • Russ Freeman – guitar, keyboards and programming
  • Dave Karasony – drums
  • Bill Heller – piano
  • Rico Belled – bass
  • Brandon Fields – saxophone

Past members have included bassists Kim Stone, 1990–2008, Steve Bailey and Bill Lanphier; saxophone players Jeff Kashiwa, Paul Taylor, Eric Marienthal, Kenny G, Kirk Whalum, and Nelson Rangell; pianists/keyboard players Dave Kochanski, David Benoit, Gregg Karukas, Tom McMorran and Mark Portmann; drummers Tony Morales, David Anderson, Omar Hakim, and Dave Hooper; and percussionists Scott Breadman, Ray Yslas and Steve Reid.

Timeline

Music career

1980s

The band name was conceived by Russ Freeman after hearing friends play "and they were ripping", so Freeman thought of Rippingtons for a name. Freeman had previously released his solo debut album Nocturnal Playground, which was released in April 1986 under the Brainchild Records label.

The band's recording career began in 1986 with the recording of the album Moonlighting. The album was well received by critics and consumers and featured the song "She Likes to Watch," which has gone on to become a staple of the band's live set and one of their signature tunes. In April 1988, the Rippingtons released Kilimanjaro and began to tour more extensively. Standouts include "Aspen" and the title track.

In August 1992, the group released Weekend in Monaco,

In 1994, Tom McMorran joined the band after Mark Portmann left, and in August of that year, the band released Sahara. The following tour featured extensive dates in East Asia, where the group played Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka (Japan), and Southeast Asia including Jakarta (Indonesia), Manila (Philippines) as well as Singapore and Guam.

In 1995, David Kochanski joined the group, and the group made its presence known on the Internet. February 1996 saw the release of Brave New World, which featured Native American flute work by Robert Tree Cody. Topaz remains one of the group's most requested CDs.

2000s

In 2000, Russ Freeman relocated to South Florida, and the move was reflected thematically in Life in the Tropics. This was the group's first album to be recorded digitally. In 2001, Scott Breadman, Bill Heller, Dave Karasony, and jazz saxophonist Eric Marienthal joined the group, and the following tour was documented on the live album Live Across America. In 2003, the group released Let It Ripp, featuring the title cut, which became a hit.

In 2005, the group released Wild Card, which plays on their ongoing Latin influences. The album features guest vocal spots by Latin music stars Willy Chirino, Chante Moore, and Albita.

In 2006, the group celebrated their 20th anniversary by releasing 20th Anniversary, a two disc set which includes the main CD as well as a 20th Anniversary Retrospective DVD.

On March 10, 2009, the Rippingtons made a return to the contemporary jazz scene with the release of the album Modern Art. A new bassist, Ricardo "Rico" Belled, participated in the recording of this album. Modern Art was nominated for a Grammy in the category "Best Pop Instrumental Album."

In October 2009, the Rippingtons returned to Japan to perform four nights (eight gigs) at the Cotton Club in Tokyo. This was their first-time return to Japan in 18 years.

2010s

In 2011, the Rippingtons took listeners to the French coast with the thematic album, Côte D'Azur. The album features French, Latin, Gypsy and Euro rhythms. Saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa is featured on the album (he returned for the second album in a row.)

The group released Built To Last on August 28, 2012, featuring Zakk Wylde, a full orchestra, and elements of jazz, rock, pop and country. This album was the first for the Rippingtons under its new partnership with E1 Music.

Discography

Studio albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|-

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:19em;"| Album details

! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions

|-

! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:75%;"| Top Contemporary Jazz Albums<br>

! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:75%;"| US<br>

! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:75%;"| Top Independent Albums<br>

! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:75%;"| Top Jazz Albums<br>

|-

! scope="row"| Moonlighting

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: 1986
  • Label: Alfa Moon (Japan) [under its subsidiary label The Baked Potato; initially released as Cruise Control Moon Riding], Passport Jazz [reissued by GRP in 1990]
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP

| 5

| 50

| -

| 25

|-

! scope="row"| Kilimanjaro

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: April 24, 1988
  • Label: GRP
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP

| 3

| 110

| -

| -

|-

! scope="row"| Tourist in Paradise

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: May 15, 1989
  • Label: GRP
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP

| 4

| 85

| -

| -

|-

! scope="row"| Welcome to the St. James' Club

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: August 21, 1990
  • Label: GRP
  • Formats: CD, cassette, DAT, LP

| 1

| -

| -

| -

|-

! scope="row"| Curves Ahead

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: August 13, 1991
  • Label: GRP
  • Formats: CD, cassette, DCC, LP

| 1

| 148

| -

| -

|-

! scope="row"| Weekend in Monaco

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: August 18, 1992
  • Label: GRP
  • Formats: CD, cassette

| 2

| 147

| -

| -

|-

! scope="row"| Sahara

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: August 30, 1994
  • Label: GRP
  • Formats: CD, cassette

| 1

| -

| -

| -

|-

! scope="row"| Brave New World

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: February 27, 1996
  • Label: GRP
  • Formats: CD, cassette

| 4

| -

| -

| -

|-

! scope="row"| Black Diamond

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: March 24, 1997
  • Label: Peak
  • Formats: CD, cassette

| 1

| 147

| -

| -

|-

! scope="row"| Topaz

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: May 18, 1999
  • Label: Peak
  • Formats: CD, cassette

| 2

| -

| -

| 26

|-

! scope="row"| Life in the Tropics

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: October 10, 2000
  • Label: Peak
  • Formats: CD

| 4

| -

| 29

| -

|-

! scope="row"| Let It Ripp

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: May 6, 2003
  • Label: Peak
  • Formats: CD

| 6

| -

| 15

| -

|-

! scope="row"| Wild Card

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: May 17, 2005
  • Label: Peak
  • Formats: CD

| 4

| -

| -

| 4

|-

! scope="row"| 20th Anniversary

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: July 25, 2006
  • Label: Peak
  • Formats: CD

| 3

| -

| -

| 3

|-

! scope="row"| Modern Art

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: March 10, 2009
  • Label: Peak
  • Formats: CD

| 4

| -

| -

| 4

|-

! scope="row"| Côte D'Azur

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: February 1, 2011
  • Label: Peak
  • Formats: CD

| 3

| -

| -

| 3

|-

! scope="row"| Built To Last

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: August 28, 2012
  • Label: eOne
  • Formats: CD

| 1

| -

| 35

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Fountain of Youth

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: June 10, 2014
  • Label: eOne
  • Formats: CD

| 3

| -

| -

| 3

|-

! scope="row"| True Stories

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: June 24, 2016
  • Label: eOne
  • Formats: CD

| 1

| -

| 24

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Open Road

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: March 22, 2019
  • Label: eOne
  • Formats: CD

| -

| -

| -

| -

|-

|}

Live albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|-

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:19em;"| Album details

! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions

|-

! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:75%;"| Top Contemporary Jazz Albums<br>

! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:75%;"| US<br>

! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:75%;"| Top Independent Albums<br>

! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:75%;"| Top Jazz Albums<br>

|-

! scope="row"| Live in L.A.

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: 1992
  • Label: GRP
  • Formats: CD, cassette

| 6

| -

| -

| -

|-

! scope="row"| Live Across America

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: March 12, 2002
  • Label: Peak
  • Formats: CD

| 11

| -

| -

| -

|-

|}

Compilations

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|-

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:19em;"| Album details

! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions

|-

! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:75%;"| Top Contemporary Jazz Albums<br>

! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:75%;"| US<br>

! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:75%;"| Top Independent Albums<br>

! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:75%;"| Top Jazz Albums<br>

|-

! scope="row"| The Best of The Rippingtons

| style="text-align:left;"|

  • Release date: November 11, 1997
  • Label: GRP
  • Formats: CD, cassette

| 10

| -

| -

| -

|-

|}

References

  • Official website
  • The Rippingtons at Discogs
  • Interview with Kim Stone at Globalbass.com