Life In The Tropics

Performer: The Rippingtons
Artist: Eric Marienthal; Howard Hewett; Bob James; Dave Koz; Daisy Lourdes Villa; Paul Taylor
Engineer: Russ Freeman; Posie Muliadi; Ken Freeman; Nick Sodano; Mark Binder
Producer: Russ Freeman; Gary Brown; Michael Angelo Saulsberry
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: The Rippingtons: Russ Freeman (acoustic, electric & classical guitars, keyboards, bass, background vocals); Dave Kochanski (keyboards); Kim Stone (bass); Dave Hooper (drums, background vocals); Ramon Yslas (percussion, background vocals). Additional personnel: "Daisy" Lourdes Villa, Howard Hewett (vocals); Eric Marienthal (soprano & tenor saxophones); Paul Taylor (alto saxophone); Dave Koz (saxophone); Ramon Flores, Jerry Hey, Gary Grant (trumpet); Bill Reichenbach (trombone); Bill Heller (piano, keyboards. programming); Gary Brown (keyboards, bass, programming, background vocals); Bob James (keyboards); Peter White (classical guitar); Laurie Hooper, Andi Howard, Michael Angelo Saulsberry (background vocals). Personnel: Dave Hooper (vocals, drums); Ramon Yslas (vocals, percussion); Howard Hewett (vocals); Russ Freeman (guitar); Peter White (classical guitar); Eric Marienthal (saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Dave Koz, Jeff Kashiwa (saxophone); Paul Taylor (alto saxophone); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Ramon Flores (trumpet); Bill Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); Bill Heller (piano, keyboards, programming); Gary Brown (keyboards, programming, background vocals); Dave Kochanski (keyboards); Tony Morales (drums); Andi Howard (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Ray Bardani. Recording information: Boca Raton, FL; Remidi Studios, Dobbs Ferry, NY; Rumbo Recorders, Canoga Park, CA; Sapphire Sound, Las Vegas, NV. Photographer: Dave Hooper. Arranger: Bill Heller. Life in the Tropics -- the first Peak Records release for the Rippingtons -- features guitarist Russ Freeman and is a great smooth jazz celebration of rhythmic delights that resemble the tropical splendor of an island oasis. The natural beauty of each composition is reflected by the great talents of the Rippingtons: Kim Stone on bass, Dave Kochanski on keyboards, Ramon Yslas on percussion, and Dave Hooper on drums, along with special guests the great saxophonists Dave Koz, Eric Marienthal, and Paul Taylor, keyboardist Bob James, and guitarist Peter White. The centerpiece of this CD is "Love Child," a sensuous mid-tempo ballad that alternates the brilliant sax work of Marienthal and Taylor as Freeman strums an emotional string sonnet under soulful synths and keyboards. The romantic vocals of Howard Hewitt on "I Found Heaven" invite you to rediscover his intense passion for a great love ballad. Its lyrics convey the excellent songwriting abilities of Freeman and Gary Brown and their ability to connect to the emotional melorhythms of the listener. The fresh sounds revealed on Life in the Tropics are sure to please you because of their melodic elements, rhythms, brass, and great guitar of Russ Freeman. ~ Paula Edelstein

JazzTimes (6/01, p.104) - "...Features examples of their fine cruising, melodic anthems...as well as their propensity for over-slick ballads, it also dips a toe into Latin stylings..."

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