Customer Reviews:
  Fantastic August 9, 1999
Superb! This album is filled with sounds as smooth as glass, jazzy guitar & bass, and mysterious uplifting spirits - the best of the Rippingtons in my opinion!
Back to basic Rippington style on this CD--yes! July 30, 1999
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've been waiting for Russ and the boys, albeit a few new faces, to get back to their old sound. Others may have liked the shift to the more fusion style play but just give me this smooth Rippington sound--with a couple of Latin sounds to boot. If you liked Russ's Nocturnal Playground, this one challenges that with equally melodic pieces and a fuller, more diverse use of instrumentation. This CD had at least 5 cuts that I felt were outstanding, beginning with the title cut, Topaz. Sorry all you other naysayers--this is the true Rippington sound!
 Kind of anemic at times, but still worthy of a listen July 27, 1999
Not a stellar CD by old Rippington's standards, but some very nice moments do exist. I became a Rippington's fan based on the high energy arrangements of the early albums like Moonlighting, Tourist in Paradise, Weekend in Monaco, etc., and really miss the BIG sound and mutliple grooves. If this is what you are looking for, don't buy this CD. Pardon my ignorance of track names as I do not have the CD sitting next to me, but one of the tracks sounds exactly like the title cut from the Spyro Gyra CD, "Heart of the Night." Anyone else notice this??? What little sax stuff is on the album is nice, but agree with a previous comment about missing Jeff Kashiwa. A nice highlight was some of the piano solos! Russ Freeman, if you read this, I appreciate your desire to move into new areas and am pleased that the annoying Hip-Hop backbeat stuff has all but diappeared on this album, but as the old Wendy's commercial said, Where's the beef??
 A Rippington Fan for years...... July 8, 1999
This is another dissapointment for me. I do belive this CD is too "Latin/Spacey" type and lacks movement like the early years of the Rippingtons. I borrowed the CD to sample and it looks like I'll pass on this one. Are the Rippingtons turning into a New Age type of Fusion Band? Could be, to go along with the Windham Hil label. oh well keep up the good work guys and pump out a good one that COOKS next time!
 A new direction? July 8, 1999
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I initially shared the same reaction of some of the others who were hoping for another "Tourist in Paradise" with a lot of fusion and sax. But after listening for a while, I'm really pleased with the change. It reminds me of a little Acoustic Alchemy and even some Metheny. If you want some funky sax, go get some Boney or Marienthal instead. But if you'd like to hear a bit more soothing acoustic melodies, Topaz will shine for ya.
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