A smooth-jazz concert that doesn't entirely live up to its billing isn't necessarily a bad thing. Take, for example, the Rippingtons concert at the Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis on Wednesday night.

The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman was always less of a band than a Freeman solo record with guest musicians. Here he drops the pretense and stripps the band down its essential core: ... But it's ...

The Rippingtons are basically critic-proof and "real jazz" critics are expected to pan them anyhow, a futile exercise avoided here since the arguments are mere preaching to the converted. Still, lead ...