Russ Freeman (guitarist)
Encyclopedia
James Russell Freeman (born February 11, 1960 in Galveston, Texas
) is a smooth jazz
artist
of multiple genres, composer and bandleader. He studied for a time at UCLA and CalArts, but remained somewhat obscure before leading the studio-formed contemporary jazz
band The Rippingtons
in 1986. Freeman and his manager, Andi Howard, also formed Peak Records
together in 1994. A producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist
, Freeman also plays bass, keyboards and drums. His music can be heard during The Weather Channel's "Local on the 8s" segments and his song "Brave New World" is included in their 2008 compilation release, The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II
. Freeman originally conceived of the Rippingtons as a changing lineup of strong contemporary jazz musicians. After releasing his debut solo album, Nocturnal Playground, in 1985, Freeman assembled the first version of the band, which featured David Benoit on piano and Brandon Fields, Dave Koz, and Kenny G on saxophones, for the appropriately titled Moonlighting (1986). Kilimanjaro, the first Rippingtons album to break into the pop charts, followed in 1988. As of 1989's Tourist in Paradise, the group was contracted to the GRP label. 1990's Welcome to the St. James Club and 1991's Curves Ahead both topped the contemporary jazz best-seller charts, and 1992's Weekend in Monaco was also a popular release. By 1993, the Rippingtons had solidified into a steady six-piece group including Freeman, Dave Kochanski on keyboards, Jeff Kashiwa on saxophone, Kim Stone on bass, Tony Morales on drums, and Steve Reid on percussion. That year saw the release of Live in L.A. In 1994, Freeman teamed with old partner David Benoit for The Benoit/Freeman Project and later in the year came Sahara, which altered the band's billing from "The Rippingtons Featuring Russ Freeman" to "Russ Freeman & The Rippingtons." In 1995, Freeman released a solo Christmas album, Holiday, followed by the eighth Rippingtons album, Brave New World, in 1995.
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
) is a smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
of multiple genres, composer and bandleader. He studied for a time at UCLA and CalArts, but remained somewhat obscure before leading the studio-formed contemporary jazz
Contemporary jazz
Contemporary jazz can mean:*Any type of jazz that evolved from deviation from its "standard" sound since mid-20th century*A contemporary variant of jazz dance*Jazz fusion*Smooth jazz...
band The Rippingtons
The Rippingtons
The Rippingtons are a contemporary group mainly relating to the genres Smooth jazz, Jazz pop, and Crossover jazz. Formed in 1986 by guitarist and band leader Russ Freeman , their career has spanned two decades...
in 1986. Freeman and his manager, Andi Howard, also formed Peak Records
Peak Records
Peak Records is a record label that was co-founded by The Rippingtons leader and guitarist Russ Freeman & Andi Howard in 1994.The early years, Peak founded as a production for Russ' group The Rippingtons in GRP Records...
together in 1994. A producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
, Freeman also plays bass, keyboards and drums. His music can be heard during The Weather Channel's "Local on the 8s" segments and his song "Brave New World" is included in their 2008 compilation release, The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II
The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II
The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II is a 2008 compilation release by Midas Records. It is the second CD from The Weather Channel which features their most requested music from the "Local on the 8s" segments...
. Freeman originally conceived of the Rippingtons as a changing lineup of strong contemporary jazz musicians. After releasing his debut solo album, Nocturnal Playground, in 1985, Freeman assembled the first version of the band, which featured David Benoit on piano and Brandon Fields, Dave Koz, and Kenny G on saxophones, for the appropriately titled Moonlighting (1986). Kilimanjaro, the first Rippingtons album to break into the pop charts, followed in 1988. As of 1989's Tourist in Paradise, the group was contracted to the GRP label. 1990's Welcome to the St. James Club and 1991's Curves Ahead both topped the contemporary jazz best-seller charts, and 1992's Weekend in Monaco was also a popular release. By 1993, the Rippingtons had solidified into a steady six-piece group including Freeman, Dave Kochanski on keyboards, Jeff Kashiwa on saxophone, Kim Stone on bass, Tony Morales on drums, and Steve Reid on percussion. That year saw the release of Live in L.A. In 1994, Freeman teamed with old partner David Benoit for The Benoit/Freeman Project and later in the year came Sahara, which altered the band's billing from "The Rippingtons Featuring Russ Freeman" to "Russ Freeman & The Rippingtons." In 1995, Freeman released a solo Christmas album, Holiday, followed by the eighth Rippingtons album, Brave New World, in 1995.
Discography
- Nocturnal Playground (1986)
- Holiday (1995)
- From the Redwoods to the Rockies (with Craig ChaquicoCraig ChaquicoCraig Chaquico is an American guitarist of Portuguese and Native American descent. He has had over thirty years of success in a variety of genres: in the 1970s with the post-Summer of Love Jefferson Starship, in that band's 1980s incarnation, Starship, and in the 1990s and 2000s as a...
) (1998) - Drive (2002)