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The Rippingtons
(09.15.12)
Purchase The Rippingtons
Music here
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QUICK BIO
Guitarist Russ Freeman [born Feb. 11, 1960] grew up in Nashville, spending his
early years hanging out in the recording studio where his father introduced him
to dozens of session musicians. By age 14, Freeman was playing sessions himself.
He initially formed The Rippingtons in 1986 as a one-off "supergroup" project.
Original members of the ensemble included David Benoit, Kenny G, Dave Koz, Gregg
Karukas and more. That first album, Moonlighting, was voted by JazzIz
magazine as the most influential contemporary jazz album of all time.
Response to Moonlighting led to the formation of a touring group and
the making of a second album. Over twenty years later, the Rippingtons continue
to make envelope-pushing music, frequently influenced by Freeman's current interests
at the time (i.e. Black Diamond from skiing, Life In the Tropics inspired
by Freeman's life in Florida, and their 2009 release, Modern Art drawing
on Freeman's own artistic talents).
The current Rippingtons lineup includes Freeman, Jeff Kashiwa, Bill Heller, Dave
Karasony and Rico Belled.
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FUN FACTS
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Russ Freeman is also a talented artist. His work is featured
on his personal website.
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Saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa met his future wife when she was
in the audience at a Rippingtons show.
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The breakup of the Beatles strongly affected Freeman, who
vowed that if he ever had a band, he'd never break them up.
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The band's logo, the Jazz Cat, is on every album cover.
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Call: 888-okdavekoz
or send us your Video Phone Message to askdave@davekoz.com
and ask Dave your question.
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