| I can describe the latest release from Smooth Jazz | | | | Rippingtons originally released Black Diamond on |
| sensation Rippingtons for you with just one word... | | | | September 16, 1997 on the Windham Hill Jazz record |
| Outstanding! | | | | label. |
| It's a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist | | | | CD Track List Follows: |
| that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in | | | | 1. Black Diamond |
| the bunch. I'm more than happy to announce that's | | | | 2. Deep Powder |
| exactly what I must say about this one. There simply is | | | | 3. Seven Nights In Rome |
| NOT a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with | | | | 4. Soul Seeker |
| each song standing tall on it's own. | | | | 5. In Another Life |
| Black Diamond has a nicely varied, mix of 11 tracks | | | | 6. Big Sky |
| that are very well written songs by this clearly | | | | 7. If I Owned The World |
| outstanding artist. | | | | 8. North Peak |
| One of the really nice things about a CD like this is with | | | | 9. Angel Fire |
| this level of talent even if Smooth Jazz isn't your | | | | 10. Jewel Thieves |
| favorite genre you still can't help but appreciate the | | | | 11. Black Diamond - (acoustic version) |
| greatness of the artists. | | | | Personnel: Russ Freeman (acoustic, electric, classical, |
| Overall Black Diamond is an outstanding release. Quite | | | | slide, baritone & 12-string guitars, mandolin, |
| possibly the Rippingtons best to date. Really | | | | keyboards, bass, percussion, loops, drum programming); |
| sensational from beginning to end. If you're even mildly | | | | Mark Williamson (vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion); |
| into Smooth Jazz music you'll enjoy this CD. | | | | Jeff Kashiwa (soprano & tenor saxophones, EWI); |
| While this entire CD is outstanding some of my | | | | Nelson Rangell (alto & tenor saxophones, flute); |
| favorites are track 2, Deep Powder, track 3 Seven | | | | Arturo Sandoval, Mark Ledford (trumpet); David |
| Nights In Rome, track 7, If I Owned The World | | | | Kochanski (piano, organ, keyboards, drum |
| My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore | | | | programming); Brian Moore (guitar, 12-string guitar); Kim |
| [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 4, Soul Seeker. | | | | Stone (bass, fretless bass); Steve Reid, Pete |
| Great track! | | | | Escovedo (percussion). |
| Black Diamond Release Notes: | | | | |