| Smooth Jazz |
Marion Meadows is one of those musicians who has always fascinated me, each of his albums transcending the expectations one might have of a smooth jazz record. His music effortlessly ventures into realms of R&B or even a form of melodic rap when his compositions call for it. To understand the source of his inspiration, one need only let Marion Meadows speak: “I landed numerous gigs as a sideman while in college, and I’ve always said I earned my real degree playing in clubs,” Meadows recounts. He honed his craft under the tutelage of jazz greats such as Sonny Fortune, Joe Henderson, Dave Liebman, and Eddie Daniels.
Unlike many leading smooth jazz artists, Marion Meadows often embraces intricate musical structures, distilling them to reveal melodies as dazzling as they are memorable. An aficionado of the most refined rhythms, he made his radio debut in 1991 with For Lovers Only. Yet, his career truly began one fateful day in the late 1980s at New York’s Grand Central Station. Here’s how the artist himself tells the story: While waiting for a train, he pulled out his saxophone and began to play under the vast dome of the terminal. His smooth, rich tones caught the ear of Jay Chattaway, a television producer and composer who happened to be passing by. Impressed, Chattaway introduced Meadows to the legendary keyboardist Bob James. Although their collaboration never saw the light of day, the experience set the stage for Meadows’ future success.
Having reviewed Bob James’ albums on numerous occasions, I must admit I secretly dream of that collaboration being released. It would surely yield something extraordinarily inventive—though its exact character remains beyond imagination. Judging by the title of Meadows’ latest album, Just Doing Me, this is one of his most personal projects yet. He fearlessly borrows from a variety of musical genres, incorporating diverse styles into his compositions. Not only is Marion Meadows a compelling composer, but he is also a master arranger who embodies his era with singular elegance.
This album is both the culmination of Marion Meadows’ artistic journey and a reflection of his contemporary vision. To pigeonhole him as merely a smooth jazz artist is far too reductive. Beyond music, he is also a painter, and his artworks can be found on his website, which I will link at the end of this review.
Listen to this album as many times as you like. The track Black Cat evokes a peculiar sensation, seemingly a tribute to the later musical explorations of Miles Davis. Meadows often includes subtle homages in his albums, leaving us to wonder if they are intentional or purely coincidental. Either way, I relish this air of mystery.
While many artists in the smooth jazz world are captivating musicians, Marion Meadows has long stood out as one of the most intriguing. This album is undoubtedly one of his most inspired works. Though it is richly rhythmic, I would describe it as an album for listening—a work from which there is much to learn. It naturally earns its place among our “Essential Albums.”
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, November 22nd 2024
Follow PARIS-MOVE on X
::::::::::::::::::::::