Artist : Marion Meadows Album : Soul City Year : 2018 Label : Shanachie

Personnel : Marion Meadows : Saxophone | Chris 'Big Dog' Davis : Keys and Drum Programming | Joey Sommerville : Trumpet | Norman Brown : Guitar | Will Gaines : Trumpet | Peter White : Guitar | Maysa : Vocals

The Soul of the city AWAKENS and comes alive at nightfall as Smooth Jazz-stylist saxophonist, Marion Meadows makes this inescapable on his new CD released February 16, 2018, entitled “Soul City,” the title track.  Meadows smooths and soothes here as he pipes out beautiful soprano sax sounds along with Norman Brown and Joey “Papa Joe” Summerville, the trio that ignites this first track and AWAKENS the city. Together they capture the essence of the nighttime jazz sound pleasing groves of jazz lovers from ALL over the city.
 
The second track on the CD, entitled, simply ‘Dreamin’ comes alive featuring Maysa on Vocals and Mr. Peter White on guitar.  This love Latin vibe tune, soft, a lover’s ache for her lover results in Maysa singing, “I’m so confused waiting for you” and “Am I a fool?” Though she is touches her lover within her mind, she tires of long distance and passing the time away, simply dreaming.

The third track on the CD, simply entitled, ‘You’ features Trombonist, Jeff Bradshaw from the City of Brotherly Love. He makes this fun!

Marion on “Baby It’s You!” Playing both tenor and soprano saxophones, he serenades the girl in his life!  Mr. Will Gains on vocals emerges soft, soothing and collaborates beautifully with the soprano sax.

Additional tracks on the CD include ‘Merry Go Round,’ featuring Atlanta’s own Latrese Bush. She shares the typical “back and forth” between lovers, something we all can attest to. “Time After Time,” Cyndi Lauper’s first number one hit in January 1984, which helped her, win a Grammy. Vocals by non-other than the Mr. Peobo Bryson & the Super Choir of Atlanta and The Nicole Neely String Chicks Music LLC assists the group with strings. 

Other tracks on the CD include ‘Be With You’ featuring KIM Fleming and Maria Meadows.

The first of the last three tracks on the CD include ‘SAMBADEPLAYA’. This is pretty with Will Downing on Vocals! It is joyful, fun, and mysterious at the same time with Meadows on soprano sax. ‘No Wind, No Rain’ features on vocals, the beautiful talented, Dana Lauren!  She is classy, elegant, and bewitching all at the same time. She delights us at times with a beautiful slow motion scat that is reminiscent of the great Ms. Ella Fitzgerald.  ‘Only,’ this is beautiful, simply breathtaking, and elegant.

Meadows now quiets the Soul of the city for sleep, but only until the next time. ^

Review by Sheila E. Ross
Blog Page - Facebook.com/sheilaross.noah

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