The Rippingtons - Life In The Tropics (2000)

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

Track listing
1. Club Paradiso 4:21
2. Caribbean Breeze 4:21
3. Cruisin' Down Ocean Drive 4:37
4. Be Cool 4:23
5. Rhythm Of Your Life 3:58
6. Love Child 4:18
7. Avenida Del Mar 5:15
8. I Found Heaven 4:22
9. South Beach Mambo 4:45
10. Life In The Tropics 4:55
11. Island Aphrodisiac 4:41