{"product_id":"life-in-the-tropics","title":"Life In The Tropics","description":"Amazon.com\n\nWhen Russ Freeman and the Rippingtons exploded on the contemporary jazz scene in 1986 with Moonlighting, the leader's compositional and production style was a breath of fresh air. Over the next decade, however, his much-copied style became a parody of itself and the epitome of the tepid music associated with smooth-jazz radio. After a couple of record label changes, Freeman seems to have regrouped somewhat with Life in the Tropics. Although the first two tracks offer the same Rips formula of a guitar and\/or sax line playing a line with computer-generated rhythms behind synthesizer flourishes adding up to nothing special, cuts 3 through 11 show Freeman searching for a new aural core to his style, a lot of which has to do with the Latin and Caribbean themes of the disc. In fact, \"South Beach Mambo\" sounds straight out of Santana's Supernatural sessions with a horn section adding spice. Saxman Eric Marienthal and pianist Bill Heller stand out, as does trumpeter Ramon Flores. The latter's horn stands particularly since it isn't the smooth-jazz clichéd alto horn sound that the Rippingtons made infamous. Keyboardist Bob James also does a guest shot on what is easily the Rippingtons' best album since 1994's Sahara. --Mark A. Ruffin\u003cbr\u003eASIN: B00004Z42V\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: DBV.B00004Z42V.G\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Rippingtons\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Audio CD\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: Individually inspected: Guaranteed to play perfectly or your money back. Case may show wear and may be in library packaging. Ships Fast!  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Dream Books Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41448621932602,"sku":"DBV.B00004Z42V.G","price":4.79,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/6011\/0138\/files\/B00004Z42V-0.jpg?v=1780860289","url":"https:\/\/shop.dreambooksco.com\/products\/life-in-the-tropics","provider":"Dream Books Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}