Sahara (The Rippingtons album)

Sahara is the eighth album by American Jazz group The Rippingtons, 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.

Sahara
Studio album by The Rippingtons
Released	August 30, 1994
Recorded	March – May 1994
Studio	Cheyenne Mountain Ranch Studios (Colorado) Ameraycan Studios and The Slam Shack (North Hollywood, California)
Genre	Smooth jazz, jazz fusion
Length	46:06
Label	GRP
Producer	Russ Freeman
The Rippingtons chronology
Live in L.A. (1992) Sahara (1994) Brave New World (1996)

Track listing

All tracks written by Russ Freeman except where noted.

1. "Native Sons of a Distant Land" – 4:47
2. "True Companion" – 4:26
3. "I'll Be Around" (Phil Hurtt, Thomas Bell) – 4:04
4. "Principles of Desire" – 4:41
5. "Sahara" – 5:01
6. "'Til We're Together Again" – 5:17
7. "The Best Is Yet to Come" – 4:59
8. "Journey's End" – 3:13
9. "Girl With the Indigo Eyes" – 4:49
10. "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 (2), bass (2-4, 9), guitars (3, 4, 10), rhythm programming (3, 4, 9), baritone guitar (5, 8), percussion (6, 8), classical guitar (8)
• Tom McMorran – acoustic piano solo (2, 7), additional keyboards (7) [uncredited in 6]
• Kim Stone – bass (1, 5-7, 9, 10)
• Tony Morales – drums (1, 2, 5-7, 9, 10)
• Steve Reid – percussion (1, 2, 5, 7, 10)
• Jeff Kashiwa – 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 – tenor saxophone (3, 4)
• Jeffrey Osborne – lead vocals (3)
• Bridgette Bryant – backing vocals (3, 4)
• Lynne Fiddmont – backing vocals (3, 4)
• Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (3, 4)
• Phil Perry – backing vocals (3, 4), lead vocals (4)

Production

• Dave Grusin – 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 – mastering at Sony Music Studios (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

Chart (1994)	Peak position
US Billboard Jazz Albums[1]	2