Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Different musical historians will offer different opinions on exactly when smooth jazz got started. One could argue that the commercial pop-jazz that guitarist Wes Montgomery recorded for A&M with producer Creed Taylor in 1967 and 1968 (after Montgomery quit recording straight-ahead bop) marked the beginning of smooth jazz, but it was in the 1980s that the smooth jazz/NAC radio format really took off -- and the Rippingtons have often reaped the benefits of the format's popularity. Along the way, they have recorded plenty of innocuous, lightweight fluff; 2009's Modern Art often fits that description, but the 49-minute CD does have its moments. At times, guitarist Russ Freeman (the Rippingtons' founder and longtime leader) sounds like he yearns to break free of the smooth jazz/NAC format's constraints and limitations -- and a somewhat edgier side of the group asserts itself with decent results on "Body Art," the funky "Jet Set," and the title track. Also, there is a bit of an intrigue factor on the flamenco-tinged "Pastels on Canvas." But those tracks are the exception rather than the rule. Most of the time, Modern Art is highly formulaic and favors a "give the program directors what they want" approach. Do Freeman and his colleagues have what it takes to move the Rippingtons into serious fusion territory and give the group the sort of creative respectability that the Yellowjackets enjoy? Probably, but moving in that direction would scare away program directors, which is something that most of this album goes out of its way to avoid doing. Again, Modern Art has its moments, but more often than not, this is yet another play-it-safe affair for the Rippingtons.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From kr124,99/month
Russ Freeman, Composer, FeaturedArtist - The Rippingtons, MainArtist
℗ 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Russ Freeman, Composer, FeaturedArtist - The Rippingtons, MainArtist
℗ 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Russ Freeman, Composer, FeaturedArtist - The Rippingtons, MainArtist
℗ 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Yaredt León, Composer - Russ Freeman, Composer, FeaturedArtist - The Rippingtons, MainArtist
℗ 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Russ Freeman, Composer, FeaturedArtist - The Rippingtons, MainArtist
℗ 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Yaredt León, Composer - Russ Freeman, Composer, FeaturedArtist - The Rippingtons, MainArtist
℗ 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Russ Freeman, Composer, FeaturedArtist - The Rippingtons, MainArtist
℗ 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Russ Freeman, Composer, FeaturedArtist - The Rippingtons, MainArtist
℗ 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Yaredt León, Composer - Russ Freeman, FeaturedArtist - The Rippingtons, MainArtist
℗ 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Russ Freeman, Composer, FeaturedArtist - The Rippingtons, MainArtist
℗ 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Russ Freeman, Composer, FeaturedArtist - The Rippingtons, MainArtist
℗ 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Album review
Different musical historians will offer different opinions on exactly when smooth jazz got started. One could argue that the commercial pop-jazz that guitarist Wes Montgomery recorded for A&M with producer Creed Taylor in 1967 and 1968 (after Montgomery quit recording straight-ahead bop) marked the beginning of smooth jazz, but it was in the 1980s that the smooth jazz/NAC radio format really took off -- and the Rippingtons have often reaped the benefits of the format's popularity. Along the way, they have recorded plenty of innocuous, lightweight fluff; 2009's Modern Art often fits that description, but the 49-minute CD does have its moments. At times, guitarist Russ Freeman (the Rippingtons' founder and longtime leader) sounds like he yearns to break free of the smooth jazz/NAC format's constraints and limitations -- and a somewhat edgier side of the group asserts itself with decent results on "Body Art," the funky "Jet Set," and the title track. Also, there is a bit of an intrigue factor on the flamenco-tinged "Pastels on Canvas." But those tracks are the exception rather than the rule. Most of the time, Modern Art is highly formulaic and favors a "give the program directors what they want" approach. Do Freeman and his colleagues have what it takes to move the Rippingtons into serious fusion territory and give the group the sort of creative respectability that the Yellowjackets enjoy? Probably, but moving in that direction would scare away program directors, which is something that most of this album goes out of its way to avoid doing. Again, Modern Art has its moments, but more often than not, this is yet another play-it-safe affair for the Rippingtons.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:47:35
- Main artists: The Rippingtons
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Peak Records
- Genre: Jazz
© 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc. ℗ 2009 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.