Ed Gordon talks with Russ Freeman, founder of the jazz group The Rippingtons, about the band's new CD and DVD, Twentieth Anniversary, which marks their two decades of making music. The Rippingtons.
ED GORDON, host: Russ Freeman and his group The Rippingtons are celebrating two decades of smooth jazz success with a new CD/DVD package titled 20th Anniversary. On the disc, the band is joined by R&B greats Patti Austin, Jeffrey Osborne and Brian McKnight. Freeman also has several of the artists who played on The Rippingtons' debut album, Moonlighting, re-performing some of their classics to give them a modern feel.</s>Mr. RUSS FREEMAN (Founder, The Rippingtons): One thing that intrigued me was the concept of having the same people 20 years later not just look backwards but to see how they progressed as players and as human beings and musicians. So I really thought about it a lot before I decided to do that medley.</s>Mr. RUSS FREEMAN (Founder, The Rippingtons): And the thing that made it interesting for me was to have the same guys play the same songs they had played 20 years ago, to see how they would approach it differently, and that's why I think it works so well.</s>ED GORDON, host: One of the things that with the passage of time happens is that we lose people along the way. You tell a very poignant story of one of your great fans, one of your biggest fans. Can you share that with us?</s>Mr. RUSS FREEMAN (Founder, The Rippingtons): Yeah. You know, well, there's a couple of stories. One, I'd like to say something about Carl Anderson, who was...</s>ED GORDON, host: Yeah, I was going to get to him. Who was a fantastic singer who we lost not long ago...</s>Mr. RUSS FREEMAN (Founder, The Rippingtons): Unbelievably great, yeah. And can't tell you the loss because the energy that he gave us and his legacy is really something that I think is extraordinary. But several years ago, I came in contact with a really wonderful individual who was only about 14 years old at the time and just a super fan. Knows, you know, knew every song.</s>Mr. RUSS FREEMAN (Founder, The Rippingtons): And I started a rapport with him. We became great friends. And he was battling a brain tumor, and successfully bravely battled it for about four years. So I just can't forget my good friend Jack Sherman(ph).</s>ED GORDON, host: And, in fact, you sent him a copy of the new album, and I understand that he actually passed away while listening to it.</s>Mr. RUSS FREEMAN (Founder, The Rippingtons): Yeah, he - I wanted to make sure he got the new record. I'm so blessed that I got to be friends with Jack and that I've met so many wonderful fans along the way. This has been, you know, the greatest thing in the 20-year history, as far as I'm concerned.</s>ED GORDON, host: I would suspect that the friendship you formed with him, particularly under those conditions, really brings home the importance of your music to many people in their lives.</s>Mr. RUSS FREEMAN (Founder, The Rippingtons): And as a composer, the only - I guess the greatest thing you can hope for is that someone will find some value and share, you know, the same feeling you had when you composed a piece of music. And to have had that success on that level with guys like Jack Sherman means more than anything.</s>ED GORDON, host: Now anyone who is familiar with The Rippingtons and the CDs is very familiar with the thing that has come along with these 20 years, and that's that little cat that appears, the jazz cat that appears. And it has really taken on a life of its own.</s>ED GORDON, host: I mean, you know, in radio, obviously, you can't see it. But here's a cat that typifies the real sense of cool. He's really captured it.</s>Mr. RUSS FREEMAN (Founder, The Rippingtons): That's why it's been so popular. You know, the jazz cat has got this attitude, and our fans definitely follow it, you know? It's been a huge...</s>ED GORDON, host: Yeah. He's done a little bit of everything, we should note, on the CD covers. He's been skiing, driving sports cars, swinging a golf club...</s>Mr. RUSS FREEMAN (Founder, The Rippingtons): Yeah. He's been a jewel thief.</s>ED GORDON, host: A little bit of everything. Jewel thief, yeah. All of the above, right?</s>Mr. RUSS FREEMAN (Founder, The Rippingtons): Right.</s>ED GORDON, host: Russ, let me ask you - obviously, the popularity hasn't weaned. If anything, it's grown. You've got a great fan base that no matter when you hit the road they're supportive and they're out there. Now that you've moved into decade number two and you made the vow and have kept it going in terms of not breaking up that group, but is this something that you see just going on indefinitely?</s>Mr. RUSS FREEMAN (Founder, The Rippingtons): It's tough to answer that, Ed, because I never really had the vision before. You know, when I sat down and created the group I didn't say this is going to be 20 years. I thought, well we'll just make the best record we can, and I'm the same. I don't know if our next is our last or it'll go another 20. I couldn't say.</s>ED GORDON, host: Well, I'm sure the fans, if they have to weigh in, they'd like to see it go another 20. And congratulations on 20 years, and thanks for being with us today.</s>Mr. RUSS FREEMAN (Founder, The Rippingtons): Thank you so much.</s>Unidentified Man: (Singing) This is our (unintelligible) love's last episode, and there's nowhere to go. Oh, no. You made a choice…</s>ED GORDON, host: That's our program for today. 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