Mascot to Join Rippingtons in Music Video; New Offering From Christopher Hollyday

The Rippingtons’ trademark character--the “Jazz Cat”--has come to full, digitally generated life in a video for the band’s new GRP album “Tourist in Paradise.”

A Los Angeles-based animation studio, Optomystic, has combined traditional cel animation with computer-generated images to allow the Jazz Cat to interact with the group in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”-like fashion. It will be the first music video in which a classic-type cartoon character is juxtaposed against a completely computerized background.

Guitarist Russ Freeman, the Rippingtons’ leader, spotted the Jazz Cat on a poster at the 1984 Atlanta Jazz Festival and fell in love with it. “It was such a natural,” said Freeman. “Jazz is associated with cool cats, and it only made sense to bring him to life to show just how cool he really is.” The Jazz Cat is featured on the cover of the current Rippingtons album catching a wave on board his guitar-shaped surfboard.

Directed by Dominic Orlando (who has also worked with Berlin, Cheap Trick, Diana Ross, etc.), the video also includes segments shot on board a sailboat traveling to Catalina Island. “We wanted the video to capture the essence of the song,” said Freeman, “and sailing on a beautiful boat to an island retreat is definitely paradise.”

The new album hit the street running last month and has quickly become the Rippingtons’ most successful outing. Freeman, who tended to take a back seat to guest-star performers in the group’s earlier recordings, has played a far more visible role in “Tourist in Paradise.” Taking responsibility for all the keyboard work, as well as all the guitar playing, has resulted in more togetherness and coherence than the group has ever displayed before.

“I feel,” he said, “that my keyboard chops have finally gotten together. I’m feeling more relaxed, and I think it shows in the music.”

With the Jazz Cat as a moving, grooving musical image, and a newly integrated musical sound, the Rippingtons may finally have found the strong, up-front identity that has so long eluded them.

***”Christopher Hollyday.” RCA Novus.

He’s barely old enough to be out of high school, but Hollyday can already play be-bop alto saxophone with the energy and creativity of a veteran. Taking his cue as much from Jackie McLean as from Charlie Parker, the 18-year-old saxophonist rips off an astonishing series of solos on pieces ranging from McLean’s “Appointment in Ghana” to Bird’s “Bloomdido” and (best of all) “Koko.” Like most young prodigies, Hollyday needs to temper his fiery technique with a pacing that will allow some deeper thoughts to come through. But he’s got plenty of time to worry about that. For the moment, he’s worth hearing for the sheer joy of jazz filled with the passion of youthful discovery.