Saxophonist Matt Rippetoe is a busy man. A mainstay within the D.C. jazz circuit, Rippetoe plays regularly with several different groups that cover a variety of styles. He has performed at Bohemian Caverns, Blues Alley, Cafe Nema, Jo-Jos, Tryst, Utopia, Columbia Station… basically all the local places. The time has finally arrived for him to take charge as a band leader and this Sunday, June 29th, at 8 p.m., he will celebrate the release of Boink, his first CD as a leader, at Bossa Bistro & Lounge.

Rippetoe began his studies in the late 80s under the tutelage of local sax great Ron Kearns. He went to West Virginia for undergrad studies and moved to Pittsburgh for a spell, playing the standard wedding gigs, club dates, and big band gigs. Rippetoe then landed a gig as a cruise ship musician that took him around the world over the course of the next several years. After returning to the D.C. area, he completed a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies at the University of Maryland under the supervision of Chris Vadala in 2002.

His new album, Boink, is much more contemporary than most products of D.C.’s jazz scene. Employing an electric bass player and exploring styles outside of straight ahead acoustic jazz, the CD is a refreshing change of pace. The songs showcase Rippetoe’s skill as a composer and range from the Latin-influenced “Lady Bugs”, to the rock of “Green Apples”, to the uptempo swing of “Flash Flood”. The album is well recorded and mixed and features some fine playing by all the members of Rippetoe’s group. In all, it is a solid effort from an up-and-coming musician.