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A subtle sqeeze of the hand, a kiss in the dark, tender words whispered away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life: sometimes the moments we treasure the most are the ones that are experienced in private, and that's what saxophonist Marion Meadows interprets throughout on his tenth release, Secrets.
A subtle sqeeze of the hand, a kiss in the dark, tender words whispered away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life: sometimes the moments we treasure the most are the ones that are experienced in private, and that's what saxophonist Marion Meadows interprets throughout on his tenth release, Secrets.
Mr. Meadows, whose made a career of oscilating between both the tenor and soprano sax (and a touch of clarinet), keeps his jazz smooth and supple this time around; among the most inspired stand-outs are the shimmery uptempo title track, and the ballad, "You Lift My Heart" (vocalized by Charlie Karp). Karp retains a breezy Michael Franks feel as he praises a woman for quietly shouldering him along the rocky trails of life, with Mr. Meadow's sax swirling throughout like a heady incense. Latin-flavored rhythms buoy the lively "Sand Dancers" and "Flirt" encompasses all the coy, breathless moments of---well, that smoldering first contact with the delectable eye candy you spotted from across the room. Bobby McFerrin's animated touch is easy to discern on "his composition, Friends," as is Pat Metheny's Brazilian-tinged signature melodies on the worthy, winged remake,"Here to Stay." "The Shade Tree," which is both soothing and sexy, recalls the embraces, endless conversations and the closeness created by furtive meetings at that favorite meeting spot.
However, given the expansiveness of his repetoire and the sheer variety of artists that he's collaborated with and been influenced by (Phylis Hyman, Eartha Kitt, Angela Bofill and Will Downing, to name just a few), some fans may feel that Mr. Meadows is playing it little too safe here, Numbers like "Let The Top Down" and "Soul Sugar," although pleasant, come off as a bit rote and generic, not too unlike what contemporaries like Najee, Kenny G and Dave Koz have already done. While this could be enough for his established, waaaay back in the day fans, listeners wanting more than the easy or expected may not be as satisfied. Competently rendered, but a bit too slick and self-satisfied for its own good, Secrets earns a modest recommendation.
Melody Charles