Have you ever watched THE WEATHER CHANNEL and during one of their local weather forecasts you heard some great Smooth Jazz in the background? Well, that great Smooth Jazz was probably played by The Rippingtons. The Rippingtons have been around for about 25 years, led by guitarist Russ Freeman. They started out as a jazz-rock fusion group, but gradually gravitated to Smooth Jazz. The Rippingtons’ mascot is a smiling, sunglasses-wearing, jazzy “hep cat” which appears in the artwork of all the band’s releases and on the official THE RIPPINGTONS website. This is not profound music, but it’s fun to listen to especially if you’re cruising around in your car. Great driving music! Give it a try. GRADE: B+
Back when I was attending the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl every year (until about 1992, I guess), I saw these guys. They did fusion, following in the footsteps of bands like Weather Report, but with a softer side. They were great favorites on the wine-and-champagne-drenched late afternoon slot at The Bowl, as you could guess. Not sure how much there is on this one “best of” collection, but two or three CDs wouldn’t be unreasonable. I’d probably rather listen to these guys than Kenny G any time, though Grover Washington remains at the top of my limited smooth jazz list.
You would like THE RIPPINGTONS, Rick. Russ Freeman, their band leader, is an excellent guitarist. I’m a fan of Grover Washington, Jr., too!
I watch the Weather Channel with devotion and have never noticed the music. It takes familiarity with me I think to make me notice it. It just washes over me much of the time.
I think THE WEATHER CHANNEL tries to pick innocuous music that doesn’t get in the way of the forecasts, Patti. Smooth Jazz fits the bill.