''Sahara'' is the eighth album by American Jazz group
The Rippingtons
The Rippingtons are an American contemporary jazz group, mainly relating to the genres smooth jazz, jazz fusion, jazz pop, and crossover jazz. Formed in 1985 by guitarist and band leader Russ Freeman, their career has spanned more than three d ...
, released in 1994 on the GRP label. The album reached number two on
''Billboard'''s contemporary Jazz chart. It is also the first of two studio albums to be released under the name ''Russ Freeman & The Rippingtons'', with the next being ''Brave New World''.
Track listing
All tracks written by Russ Freeman except where noted.
#"Native Sons of a Distant Land" – 4:47
#"True Companion" – 4:26
#"
I'll Be Around" (
Phil Hurtt
Phil Hurtt (born April 12, 1942) is a musician, singer, songwriter and arranger who has written hits for The Detroit Spinners, The Ritchie Family and many others. His compositions have been recorded by many artists and he has worked as an arran ...
,
Thomas Bell) – 4:04
#"Principles of Desire" – 4:41
#"Sahara" – 5:01
#"'Til We're Together Again" – 5:17
#"The Best Is Yet to Come" – 4:59
#"Journey's End" – 3:13
#"Girl With the Indigo Eyes" – 4:49
#"Porscha" – 4:49
Personnel
The Rippingtons
*
Russ Freeman – keyboards, acoustic guitars (1, 2, 5, 6), electric guitars (1, 2, 5-7, 9), 12-string guitar (1, 2, 5),
mandolin
A mandolin (, ; literally "small mandola") is a Chordophone, stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally Plucked string instrument, plucked with a plectrum, pick. It most commonly has four Course (music), courses of doubled St ...
(2), bass (2-4, 9), guitars (3, 4, 10), rhythm programming (3, 4, 9),
baritone guitar
The baritone guitar is a guitar with a longer scale length, typically a larger body, and heavier internal bracing, so it can be tuned to a lower pitch. Gretsch, Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, ESP Guitars, PRS Guitars, Music Man, Danelectro, Sche ...
(5, 8), percussion (6, 8),
classical guitar
The classical guitar, also known as Spanish guitar, is a member of the guitar family used in classical music and other styles. An acoustic wooden string (music), string instrument with strings made of catgut, gut or nylon, it is a precursor of the ...
(8)
* Tom McMorran – acoustic piano solo (2, 7), additional keyboards (7)
ncredited in 6* Kim Stone – bass (1, 5-7, 9, 10)
* Tony Morales – drums (1, 2, 5-7, 9, 10)
*
Steve Reid
Steve Reid (January 29, 1944 – April 13, 2010) was an American jazz drummer who played with Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, James Brown, Fela Kuti, Kieran Hebden, and Sun Ra. He worked as a session drummer for Motown.
Biography
Born in ...
– percussion (1, 2, 5, 7, 10)
*
Jeff Kashiwa
Jeff Kashiwa is an American saxophonist with the smooth jazz band the Rippingtons and one of three with the Sax Pack, as well as having recorded several albums under his own name.
Life and career
Jeff Kashiwa was born in 1963 in Louisville, Ken ...
– tenor saxophone (1, 10),
EWI controller (1), alto saxophone (5, 10), soprano saxophone (8, 9)
Guest Musicians and Vocalists
* Art Wood –
loops (3, 4, 9)
*
Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum (born July 11, 1958) is an American R&B and smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. Whalum has recorded a series of commercially and critically acclaimed solo studio albums. Along with several film soundtracks, with music ranging fro ...
– tenor saxophone (3, 4)
*
Jeffrey Osborne
Jeffrey Linton Osborne (born March 9, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and lyricist. He is the former drummer and lead singer of the American R&B/soul group L.T.D. (band), L.T.D., with whom he began his musical career in 1970.
B ...
– lead vocals (3)
* Bridgette Bryant – backing vocals (3, 4)
* Lynne Fiddmont – backing vocals (3, 4)
*
Jim Gilstrap
James Gilstrap is an American singer and session musician. He is best known for his 1975 solo hit single " Swing Your Daddy", as well as singing co-lead to the theme from the TV series ''Good Times''.
Career
Gilstrap was born November 10, 1946 ...
– backing vocals (3, 4)
*
Phil Perry
Philip Eugene Perry (born January 12, 1952) is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B singer, songwriter, musician and a former member of the soul group, The Montclairs, from 1971 to 1975. He was also known for performing the opening song to Disney†...
– backing vocals (3, 4), lead vocals (4)
Production
*
Dave Grusin
Robert David Grusin (born June 26, 1934) is an American composer, arranger, producer, jazz pianist, and band leader. He has composed many scores for feature films and television and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record work, incl ...
– executive producer
*
Larry Rosen – executive producer
* Russ Freeman – producer, arrangements, recording, mixing
* John Potoker – recording (Jeffrey Osborne's vocal on Track 3)
* Carl Griffin – mixing
* Joseph Doughney – post-production
* Michael Landy – post-production
* The Review Room (New York City, New York) – post-production location
*
Vlado Meller
Vlado Meller (born in 1947 in Humenné as ''VladimÃr Meller'') is a Slovak audio mastering engineer, currently with Vlado Meller Mastering in Charleston, South Carolina. Meller works across many genres of music, with credits on rock, hip-hop, p ...
– mastering at
Sony Music Studios
Sony Music Studios was an American music recording and mastering facility in New York City. The five-story building was a music and broadcasting complex located at 460 W. 54th Street, at 10th Avenue, in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhat ...
(New York City, New York)
* Cara Bridgins – production coordinator
* Joseph Moore – production coordination assistant
* Sonny Mediana – production director
* Lillian Barbuti – production direction assistant
* Andi Howard – album coordination, management
* Andy Baltimore – creative director
* Alba Acevedo – art direction, inside illustration
* Hollis King – art direction
* Dan Serrano – art direction
* Laurie Goldman – graphic design
* Freddie Paloma – graphic design
* Bill Mayer – cover illustration
* Carl Studna – photography
Charts
References
External links
The Rippingtons-Sahara at DiscogsThe Rippingtons-Sahara at AllMusicThe Rippingtons Official Website
{{Authority control
1994 albums
GRP Records albums
The Rippingtons albums