Curves Ahead is another Rippington's crowd pleaser, delivering a smooth, sometimes energetic collection of modern instrumental jazz numbers. The title track ebbs and flows with electric energy and Freeman's guitar, while "Take Me With You", "Aspen" and "Nature Of The Beast" deliver the crisp Rippingtons sound found on predecessors "Welcome To The St. James' Club" and "Tourist In Paradise". Interesting guest players include GRP label exec Dave Grusin on piano on "North Star" and sax man Nelson Rangell on "Santa Fe Trail" and the title track. Some fine drumming by Omar Hakim and Tony Morales here too, as Curves Ahead contains less sequenced drums than earlier releases. Instrumental Guitar (Electric/Smooth Jazz/World), total running time, 48:09 - Rippingtons @ iTunes!