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Freeman's Rippingtons marking 20 years of jazz

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By David Burke | Thursday, October 25, 2007 4:06 AM CDT | () comments

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When Russ Freeman formed The Rippingtons 21 years ago, he looked at it as a part-time gig for a few of his fellow musicians.

“I was always surprised when we had more opportunities to make more records,” he said in a telephone interview from Boca Raton, Fla. “It’s been a real blessing to have fans as devoted and as loyal to us as they have through the years.”

Still on its 20th anniversary tour, The Rippingtons will perform Saturday during the final night of the Smooth Jazz Series Fall Festival.

When Freeman, a guitarist and keyboard player, got his fellow musicians together, it was for an album called “Moonlighting.” The 1986 release was hailed by Jazziz magazine as the most influential contemporary jazz album of the 20th century. Its players included some then-little-known musicians, among them Kenny G and Dave Koz.

Freeman said the album’s beginnings were far too humble to get such lofty praise.

“My idea with the ‘Moonlighting’ CD was simply to call in friends that had been playing in my band on Monday nights in a small club in L.A. and give them some more production experience,” he said. “Everyone was kind of moonlighting, so that’s why we called it that.”

Since then, The Rippingtons have recorded 16 albums. Freeman said another will be recorded next year, due for release in 2009.

There’s been a lot of consistency with the group, he said. Bass player Kim Stone has been with the band more than 18 years, and several other players have been involved for at least a decade.

“I think it’s the love of the music” that keeps players in the group, he said. “It’s clear that the guys in the band love to play the music.”

Freeman, 47, said the members also enjoy getting together because it’s just plain fun.

“You can tell. I think fans can tell how much fun we have together,” he said. “It certainly is contagious.”

David Burke can be contacted at (563) 383-2400 or dburke@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

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What: Smooth Jazz Series Fall Festival

Friday, Oct. 26: Nick Colionne and Will Donato at 7 p.m. in Redstone Room, inside River Music Experience, 129 Main St., Davenport. Admission is $45.50 and $39.50

Saturday, Oct. 27: The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman and Tom Braxton, 7 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre, 326 W. 3rd St., Davenport. Admission is $60 and $49.50

Two-day pass: $95 and $80

Information: (563) 324-4208 or smoothjazzseries.com