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.

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, guitars, rhythm programming, mandolin (2), bass (2, 3, 4, 8)
 * Kim Stone – bass (1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10)
 * Tony Morales – drums (1, 2, 5, 6, 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)
 * Tom McMorran – acoustic piano (2, 7), acoustic piano solo (2, 7), additional keyboards (7) [uncredited in 6]

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

 * Russ Freeman – producer, arrangements, recording, mixing
 * Dave Grusin – executive producer
 * Larry Rosen – executive producer
 * John Potoker – recording (Jeffrey Osborne's vocal on Track 3)
 * Carl Griffin – mixing
 * Joseph Doughney – post-production engineer
 * Michael Landy – post-production engineer
 * Vlado Meller – mastering
 * 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


 * Studios
 * Recorded and Mixed at Cheyenne Mountain Ranch Studios (Colorado).
 * Additional recording at Ameraycan Studios and The Slam Shack (North Hollywood, California).
 * Post-Production recording at The Review Room (New York City, New York).
 * Mastered at Sony Music Studios (New York City, New York).