Marion Meadows

Soprano saxophonist Marion Meadows is a West Virginia native who spent his youth in Stamford, Connecticut. He started on clarinet and played tenor as a teenager before settling on the soprano, and studied at Berklee College of Music. Drummer Norman Connors recorded his composition “Invitation” and brought him into his band, and he also worked as a sideman for Eartha Kitt, Phyllis Hyman, the Temptations and Michael Bolton, among others. In 1990 Steve Backer signed him to Novus/RCA, which issued his debut, For Lovers Only.

That record soon made him a regular on smooth jazz radio, and albums such as Forbidden Fruit, In Deep and Dressed to Chill followed. His Shanachie years, which began in 2012, brought Soul Traveler, the opening instalment of his Soul Trilogy, and Soul City, whose title track features Norman Brown and Joey Sommerville; Twice as Nice followed in 2021. His music draws on contemporary jazz and adult R&B, and his soprano tone is warm with a clear edge.