Rippingtons - Modern Art
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CD Details
Artist: RippingtonsEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2009-03-10
Music Label: Peak Records
Soundtracks:
- Modern Art
- Paris Groove
- Black Book
- Pastels On Canvas
- One Step Closer
- I Still Believe
- Body Art
- Age Of Reason
- Sweet Lullaby
- Jet Set
- Love Story
Music reviews of Modern Art
Music Review: Another Rippingtons album with no new ground broken
Rating: 2 Stars
Let's just work our way through this one track by track.
1). "Modern Art"...a "Quiet Storm / Smooth Jazz" FM Radio-friendly opening track. The plus is that Russ Freeman can be heard on the track, there is no fake Santana rhythm section, and the horns are part of the mix, not a squealing, honking annoyance as on the last few "high energy" efforts from the Ripps. The track is harmless, hardly memorable, but alt least a step back toward the more balanced Rippingtons sound.
2). "Paris Groove"...not bad, some tasteful and melodic Freeman acoustic guitar, once again a welcome return to the pre-"Let It Ripp" Rippingtons sound. The flips side is that if you found the "Let It Ripp" album to be a life-altering experience, you may not be as delighted as I am. This one's even more radio-friendly than the opening track (and "meatier" as a composition...good job Russ).
3). "Black Book"...A full minute into this track, the melody is still tentatively creeping up over the bass vamp...this is ambient background music, not the kind of thing I would actually listen to for enjoyment. By minute two we have a few more layers, but the problem is that it is so similar to every one of the similar "Quiet Storm" smooth jazz songs you've heard on the radio that you have to ask yourself...what will make you remember this track?
4). "Pastel On Canvas"...We're four tracks into this album and we can see that Russ Freeman might have been listening to the feedback regarding the absence of his guitar playing on the last few albums (or the fact that it was buried at the bottom of a busy and cacophonous mix). Pleasant, yet still not "grab you by the lapels and demand your attention" stuff.
5). "One Step Closer"...This band really needs to push the envelope and try something new. You've heard this song a million times before...even if you haven't.
6). "I Still Believe"...very, very, very laid back...maybe TOO laid back. I can hear Tim Meadows on SNL saying "I'm doing OK...I've got my Courvoisier right here."
7). "Body Art"...More soloing over very basic jazz-light comps with no memorable song underneath.
8). "Age Of Reason"...Another quiet one...but it is still vanilla pudding.
9). "Sweet Lullaby"...more Freeman front-and-center, not bad, but you won;t be paying 99 cents to add it to your iPod.
10). "Jet Set"...the first electric guitar soling from Freeman on the album, but unlike the standout tracks on the last few albums, it never really catches fire.
11). "Love Story"...the standout track, but on an album featuring songs as weak as this one, it's not saying much. More electric Freeman.
Overall, the album is better than "Let It Ripp" and anything that followed. The problem is that unlike Let It Ripp, Wild Card and 20th Anniversary, there isn't a single killer track.
To be fair, it paints a much brighter picture of the band's future than I would have imagined, because the loud horns / Santana thing was as played out as played out can get.
Maybe it's time for Freeman to collaborate with some outside songwriters...and by that I mean any musician who has never played with the band. Fresh perspective, fresh compositions to challenge what we know are talented musicians, but who are also in a ho-hum holding pattern.
2 stars and an "E" for effort. Hey, that's better than flunking out, right?
Description of Modern Art
When you think about contemporary music, there are very few bands that have had the lasting impression and impact that the Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman have had. For over 20 years this band has been delighting audiences all over the world with their distinct, signature sound. Now with their 17th album, Russ Freeman has once again demonstrated why he is one of the true musical innovators in the contemporary jazz genre with Modern Art. Featuring a familiar "cast of characters", Modern Art once again showcases a unique musical style that was created many years ago and still sounds as fresh and new today as it did when they started. Soaring horns, melodic keyboards and driving percussion are all anchored by the intricate guitar styling of Freeman.Jazz CDs
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