RF: Oh, definitely, definitely. That’s what it’s all about and the great thing about the group, and I think the reason people like being in it, is that they have a way to stretch out.
Smitty: Yeah.
RF: And I like the fact that the players can really give the most of themselves in the group and that’s what makes it fun.
Smitty: Yes, and you always seem to somehow select these great musicians; for example you could introduce a new sax player at some point and we were missing the one that had just left to move on to their own solo career, and the new sax player would bring a fresh new vibe.
RF: There’s talent out there, there’s a lotta talented people.
Smitty: Yes indeed and you’ve always had such a great rhythm section, and I wanna stop and just say something for a minute. I don’t know how much people have mentioned this to you or in the press or anywhere, but I’ve said this all along: you are one fantastic songwriter. We’ve seen you live with a guitar and all of that, which is phenomenal, but I have always admired your songwriting skills. The medley itself speaks for that, you know?
RF: Well, thank you, thank you, Smitty. You know, it’s funny because I’ve always thought that it was my main contribution to the group, which is the songwriting, but I’ve probably contributed more in the way of guitar playing in the last several years than I had in the beginning. In the beginning it was all production and songwriting, and then as I got to be a better player and branched out and really became so much more versed in different styles, I started really playing a lot more guitar.
Smitty: Yeah.
RF: But thank you for that.
Smitty: Oh, you’re so welcome, man, and that comes from the heart. And you know what, Russ? Not only were you cats putting out music constantly, this is 20 years of great work. I mean, you cats…
RF: (Laughs)
Smitty: We could look forward to a new record almost every year and then you found time to do Drive, your solo project, and then I still remember Nocturnal Playground.
RF: Oh, thank you.
Smitty: Oh yeah, man. And then look at what you did with Jason Miles on the Maximum Grooves thing. You know, you have really stretched it out and done some really cool stuff, not to mention the Benoit/Freeman Projects, which are fantastic, so you have been one working cat. I mean, you’ve earned these 20 years and you have never put out anything that didn’t have the utmost quality.
RF: Thanks, man, thank you. It’s all about trying to put out the best product that we can and connecting with the fans but, yeah, I really feel proud of a lot of the things we’ve done. I think it’s been amazing but, you know, we owe it all to the fans. That’s where it all goes back.
Smitty: That’s a beautiful relationship, isn’t it? I think in terms of relationships in any kind of situation, the fan-musician relationship, regardless of the genre, it just stands out and it’s right up there at the top with other relationships in life, and I think that is a beautiful thing when you can be a part of that because not everyone can capture that.
RF: Oh, well, thanks, thank you. The world has changed so much since we started, but we had a great time, man, we had a great ride.
Smitty: Yeah, absolutely. This is something to really celebrate and I think that this project is really a celebration of what you just mentioned: your relationship with the fans over the years, the friends that you have encountered over the years, and fostered those relationships, and not only with the fans but fellow musicians and so many other people that come along the way.
RF: Definitely.
Smitty: And I remember some of the musicians that stand out for me are on Life in the Tropics. When I heard Bob James on that project that was phenomenal.
RF: Some performances kinda grow on you and surprise you, and it was funny. I was talking to Art Good today and we had worked with Kenny Loggins on a song years ago with David Benoit. And he hadn’t heard it and it’s like you suddenly realize, you know, you’re hearing these things, like, ‘oh, that was pretty cool’, and I think the performance of Bob James that you’re talking about is the same for me. I heard it on the radio not too long ago and thought, man, that’s great! (Both laughing) Oh, he’s wonderful.
Smitty: Yes indeed. And just to back up a little bit: Moonlighting. That, I think, was one of the top ten breakthrough records of any genre. When you think in terms of that whole change in the sound and what that created, because from that point we start to hear a lot of other bands try to, if not mimic, at least try to capture that in some way. And I think that was such a breakthrough record with some phenomenal artists on there that were mentioned on the DVD, such as Dave Koz and Gregg Karukas and all of these great guys that have gone on to have fantastic solo careers. So the band was such a launching pad for some of these guys.
RF: Yeah, I think in a sense, yes, but there was a lot of talent and a lot of careers that were gonna happen regardless. I just think that it was a very synergistic time when we all got together and I’m not surprised of the talent and the careers that have happened.
