Marion Meadows – Soul City (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 46:14 minutes | 530 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Shanachie Entertainment
Smooth Jazz Superstar Marion Meadows is without question one of the most popular and unique talents on the jazz scene today. Marion has sold close to one million albums in his brilliant career. His constant string of radio hits and relentless touring have garnered legions of fans, and his appearances with such varied artists as The Temptations, Michael Bolton and Will Downing are a testament to his broad audience appeal. Soul City, Marion’s most intimate and heartfelt album to date, is a star-studded event that takes the listener on a sensuous journey through a soundscape of brilliant original compositions and masterful improvisations. The album is co-produced by Marion’s long time hit-making collaborators, Chris “Big Dog” Davis (Will Downing, Gerald Albright, Maysa), Rahni Song (Najee, Melba Moore, Freddie Jackson) and Dave Love. Soul Traveler, Marion’s previous Shanachie release, debuted at #1 on the Smooth Jazz charts, and garnered 3 top 10 Smooth Jazz Radio singles. Highlights include the funky “Soul City” featuring Norman Brown, the deeply sensuous ballad “Be With You” with vocals by the amazing Will Downing, “Merry Go Round” featuring Smooth Jazz icon Peter White and much more!
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Marion Meadows – Players Club (2004)
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 50:44 minutes | Artwork | 3,2 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Artwork | 1,1 GB
This ultracool saxman has some of the sexiest moves in smooth jazz and a dreadlock-based look that drives female genre fans wild. He’s always focused on passionate, soprano-based tunes to express this sexuality in musical terms, so it’s no surprise that one of the best tracks here is the power-passion ballad “Romantica.” He’s always been successful at adapting his lyrical sound and melodic sense to easy funk tunes, and here plays that middle of the road well on tracks like “Deska” (dedicated to his new bride Desi) and the soul classic “Wishing on a Star.” But because we’re so familiar with this side of his personality, it’s always more fun to hear him fulfill a deeper potential, a bit outside the box. The ultragrooving, hip, and brassy title track, on which he blends soprano with tenor and slides over the baritone edges of Matt King, leads us to expect a slightly more swinging affair, but “Sweet Grapes” reminds us that Meadows is more about sensuality and cool soul vibes than the thumpy stuff. Another standout track that goes beyond his usual boundaries is the jamming R&B/Latin funk tune “Noche Privada,” which combines a hefty urban groove and his sweet soprano lines with the intimate harmonics of Chieli Minucci’s gorgeous Spanish guitar. These outside-the-box efforts have always hinted at a deeper artistry behind Meadows’ straightforward approach to R&B-influenced smooth jazz, and he should keep expanding upon them. Overall, this is one of his most appealing efforts, and a club every smooth jazz listener will gleefully join.
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