Roland's Brevard Jazz Series presents:
The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman with special guest Jeff Kashiwa
Imperial Suites Hotel Ballroom
Melbourne, Florida
July 24, 2005

One of the most active and passionate smooth jazz scenes in the country is about as far from New York and L.A. as you can get. It is in Brevard County, Florida. The area is familiar to most as the home of the Kennedy Space Center. To Florida smooth jazz fans it is also known as the home of Roland's Brevard Jazz Series, which has been bringing major artists to the area since 1993 in the most comfortable, friendly and professionally run settings a concertgoer could dream of. In the early 90s, Roland Guiliarte was hosting a smooth jazz radio show and working in a record store. Listeners and customers were talking about the lack of local jazz concerts and he decided to do something about it. The Brevard Jazz Series started with shows in clubs and small rooms in Melbourne, Merritt Island, and Coca Beach, and then expanded to promoting concerts at the area's main concert venue: the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne. Through the years the series has developed a fiercely loyal group of supporters, due not only to the quality of the concerts, but to the sense of community the smooth jazz fans in the area have developed during over a decade of attending the concerts. It was Roland's dream to bring the Rippingtons to the area, and that dream was realized. They were the Series' first King Center concert and have returned several times. He also brought Steve Reid's Bamboo Forest and Jeff Kashiwa for more intimate concerts, including several at a beachside hotel. Needless to say, these artists have a fiercely loyal fan base in central Florida. A few months ago Roland sent out an email asking if people would be willing to pay a little more for tickets if it meant they could see the Rippingtons in a smaller, more intimate setting. The response was a resounding yes. Within weeks we were told that they had been booked into a local hotel ballroom that would seat about 400 people and the icing on the cake: Jeff Kashiwa would be flying into town to reunite with the band for just this one night.

As promised, there was no such thing as “too far back” for this concert. The back row was closer than the middle section of the average concert hall. The stage was lit and the sense of anticipation was tangible by the time a rousing voice on the PA system introduced the band. They hit the stage and established the energy level from the outset with a powerful version of “Brave New World" featuring the first of many electrifying rock guitar solos from Russ. Russ was center stage, Kim to the right and Jeff to the left, playing like he'd never been away. "Wild Card," the most traditionally smooth song on the new CD followed. Then Russ picked up the acoustic guitar for "Gypsy Eyes" and "Spanish Girl." These two songs performed live have such a sense of ethereal beauty, both have the Latin flavor that defines the new CD but unlike a lot of bands that perform this type of material the Rippingtons keep it tight and clean, comparatively minimalist with a lot of momentum provided by Scott Breadman's percussion work. The result is that you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere they create. Then they take you back. They brought back "Ocean Song" from Kilamanjaro, one of the songs that defined the bands original sound, complete with some throwback keyboard lines from Dave Karasony and true-to-the-original sax from Jeff. Russ switched back to electric for "Cast A Spell" and delivered another sizzling solo. Then it was Jeff's turn to front the band, as they backed him up for two of his solo hits, "Around The World" and "Hyde Park (the Aaah Oooh song)". "Hyde Park" is his audience participation number and with some of the audience enjoying frequent visits to the bar it was quite the fun sing-along. After a short intermission they launched into "South Beach Mambo" a song that rocks on a Santana-at-their-best level. "Lay It Down" showcased Kim Stone on bass. He had been tossing out stunning chops from the side of the stage for the whole evening. For this one he stepped upfront and started subtle, then finished loud and funky with Jeff absolutely wailing on tenor sax. Jeff brought out the soprano for a beautiful version of "A Place for Lovers" then kicked it up a few notches for "Peace of Mind," the title track from his latest CD, which featured another solo from Kim. Long-time favorite "Aspen" was one big nostalgia buzz. It seemed like Russ and Kim had such big grins as they watched Jeff play that familiar sax line. They wrapped it up where old meets new, with "Angel Fire," a song from Black Diamond that foreshadowed the sound of the current CD and got the crowd up and dancing in the aisles. At a Rippingtons concert the encore is a given. This far into it nobody wants to go home. They came back with "Tourist In Paradise," another guaranteed crowd pleaser with a nostalgia buzz attached. Some of the hardcore even remembered when to put their hands in the air and shout "whoooo!" Then it's into the Hendrix songs, "Purple Haze" and "Fire." I have seen this band at least 20 times since 1991 and still think this is a lot of fun. Russ can play loud and fast. I like that in a musician.

When you see a band once a year or so over the course of 15 years, some concerts are better than others, some lineups seem to gel more than others do, sometimes the chemistry is there and sometimes it isn't. With the Rippingtons, even when the little intangibles don't mesh their concerts have always been excellent. When everything clicks there is nothing else like it! This year they are "on." Russ is playing with more energy than ever and tossing out jaw-dropping rock-driven solos with an astonishing sense of ease. The band is as tight as ever and everyone gets a chance to do some knockout solos. Yes, it was wonderful to see Jeff back. He tore it up and played his you-know-what off. The night before in Jacksonville, Eric Marienthal did too. In Orlando in May, Paul Taylor was on sax and had the crowd in the palm of his hand. It is quite a feat for a band to maintain their core identity while featuring three musicians who are established as solo artists and so totally different from each other. Russ keeps it centered, both as the leader/guitarist and composer. Kim, Scott, Dave K., and Bill...there's nobody else like 'em! They bring out the best in each other and that little X-factor sets this group apart. A Rippingtons concert has always been and still is the best live music "fix" you can get!

For more information about the Brevard Jazz Series, visit www.jazzseries.com

- Shannon West