Russ Freeman and his group, The Rippingtons, have been putting out about a CD a year for quite a while. The latest effort from the band is called Topaz. The album was released by Windham Hill Jazz and distributed by BMG Entertainment. The Rippingtons play contemporary jazz music.

Musicians get their ideas for albums from a variety of sources. Russ Freeman decided that he wanted to do an album that had a southwestern flavor to it. He began work on putting one together after helping out on the Redwood To The Rockies project. The result of his labor is Topaz.

Temple Of The Sun is one of the best tracks on the CD. It features Russ on Classical guitar and keyboards. Paul Taylor does the soprano sax, with Dave Hooper on drums and additional keyboard work by Bill Heller. The song has an upbeat tempo too it that makes you want to get up and groove.

Stories Of The Painted Desert features Native American Robert Tree Cody. Robert is an elder of the Maricopa tribe and helped the band put forth a finite southwestern tempo. Robert plays a carved wooden flute for this song.

Other songs on the CD include Snakedance, Rain, Summer Lovers and Spirits In The Canyon.

Possibly the best song on the CD is Topaz: Gem Of The Setting Sun. This intro to this song reminds me a lot of the style that Carlos Santana has. From there the song gets into some real good guitar riffs along with drum, organ and keyboard elements.

If you like good contemporary jazz, The Rippingtons is the perfect band to listen to. And if you like your music with a southwestern flavor to it, then Topaz should definitely be on your shopping list.

Check out the Rippingtons at their web site at www.Rippingtons.com.

Copyright © 2000 Bruce E. Von Stiers