The Rippingtons Feat. Russ Freeman

A quick Google search of the term Modern Art clues in contemporary jazz fans everywhere just why it's the perfect title for The Rippingtons' latest release on Peak Records, and reflective of band founder Russ Freeman's creative mindset as he leads the pioneering band in blazing new trails at the start of their incredible third decade: "It is usually associated with art in which the traditions of the past have been cast aside in a spirit of experimentation, associated with new ways of seeing and fresh ideas about the functions of art."
The Rippingtons spent the summer of 2006 and much of the past two years celebrating that past and toasting the future with what Freeman jokingly calls "the longest and greatest 20th Anniversary tour in history." They embarked on the extended journey upon the release of The Rippingtons 20th Anniversary, the remarkable 2006 CD/DVD package featuring a retrospective DVD, new music and a medley of their most popular airplay hits since the release of their debut album Moonlighting in 1986.
While the demand for more shows means that Ripps enthusiasts have had to wait longer than usual (two and a half years) for the band's follow-up, the extra time and ongoing slate of live concerts allowed Freeman and his explosive new lineup (including powerful new bassist Rico Belled and special guest, returning saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa) the extraordinary opportunity to work out the new material on Modern Art and let the songs evolve in front of the audiences' eyes.
Writing is always a very organic process for me," says Freeman, who wrote most of the collection's tracks in early 2008, "and spending so much of the spring, summer and fall on the road meant that I had more time to live with the songs and let them develop naturally. The time between writing and recording is usually much shorter, but this time the band had a lot of time to work with the tunes and help them evolve in some amazing ways. It was also the first time ever I recorded all of my acoustic and electric guitar parts first, which allowed us to interact in the studio the way we do onstage. This new approach allowed them to respond more spontaneously to my playing at a higher intuitive level than they ever could on any previous album-and we're talking 18 albums since the late 80's!
Freeman has particularly high praise for Kashiwa, whose original stint with the band was from 1990-99. He again toured with The Ripps for the first leg of the 20th Anniversary Tour and continues as a special guest, in addition to his solo career and as a member of the group Sax Attack. The sax man's exciting performances on Modern Art mark his first full-fledged immersion on Ripps project since 1997's Black Diamond; he performed on tracks in the meantime on Life in the Tropics (2000) and 20th Anniversary.
Another key element in making Modern Art truly worth a trip to the "Ripps Museum" is Freeman's further development and rich creative partnership and recent marriage to the multi-talented songwriter Yaredt Leon, who co-wrote four songs on The Rippingtons' 2005 Latin themed excursion Wild Card. On the new album, Freeman and Leon, who has scored Top 40 hits for Mexican artists like Jenny Rivera, co-wrote the exotically romantic "Pastels on Canvas" and the sensual, blues-punched ballad, "I Still Believe," which is driven by Kashiwa's simmering horn and Bill Heller's brooding Hammond B-3. Leon has sole writing credit on the graceful, tropical flavored charmer "Sweet Lullaby."
In recent years, Freeman has also been cultivating his skills behind the scenes as a talented landscape painter and illustrator, and an admirer and collector of Modern Art. "I come from a family of fine artists, and painting is something I had a knack for and developed when I was a kid," Freeman says. "Even as I pursued other forms of artistic expression, I had a great interest and could always relate to it. I'm very proud of the paintings I have in my collection as well as my own that I've recently started to hang in the house. I'm hoping I can encourage some of our fans to appreciate art as much as I do, and I soon plan to start posting some of my work on our website (www.rippingtons.com)."
Perhaps the most amazing part of The Rippingtons' story is that after the unexpected success of Moonlighting, Russ Freeman-who had released a successful solo album, Nocturnal Playground, in 1985 -- was still on the fence regarding whether to pursue a career as a solo artist or become the full-time leader of a band. With the concept of a rotating collective approach under Freeman's guidance and vision paving the way, The Ripps - whose first lineup included future contemporary jazz superstars Dave Koz, Kenny G and David Benoit -- dominated the instrumental and urban jazz landscape from the late 80s on with their often exotically titled hit recordings, including Kilimanjaro, Tourist in Paradise, Welcome to the St. James Club, Weekend In Monaco, Live in L.A., Sahara, Brave New World and Live Across America.
Over the years, Freeman has peppered the band's discography with two solo albums (1995's Holiday and 2002's Drive) and dual recordings with Benoit, The Benoit/Freeman Project (1994) and Benoit/Freeman 2 (2004). In 1994, Freeman and longtime manager Andi Howard launched the independent label Peak Records, now a division of the Concord Music Group.
As The Rippingtons move beyond their 20th Anniversary and into a - to draw from one of their classic album titles - Brave New World, it's a good time to stop for a moment, contemplate the past as we look forward to the future, and admire their latest work of Modern Art.