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JazzDigger Home > J - Jazz Artists > Boney James > Item 45
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Dressed to Chill
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by Marion Meadows
Price:$14.99
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Listener Reviews & Comments
I have been a Marion Meadows fan for a long time; I really like his musicianship and style of playing, and I have most of the music he has recorded over the years in my CD collection. I love all forms of jazz and I think the guy is good ok? But in my opinion, he has SERIOUSLY stepped up his "game" with his last three albums. The common denominator? MICHAEL BROENING. You are probably saying, "Michael who?" MICHAEL BROENING. Remember the name. He and Marion first hooked up two CDs ago for a couple of songs on "In Deep", expanded the colaboration to about half the songs on Marions last CD "Players Club", and now Mike B has taken over writing/co-writing and production duties for 10 of the 12 trackss on this latest offering, "Dressed To Chill." The results have been OUTSTANDING!!! Now as I said before, I am a Marion Meadows fan. He is one of my favorite contemporary soprano sax players. But his work has been elevated to the next level with Mike B co-writing, producing, arranging, and performing alongside him. Mike B knows how to bring out the absolute BEST in Meadows' music. Marions' light, some would say trademark style of playing the soprano sax is unmistakable, and Broening does an EXCELLENT job of tailoring each of these songs to highlight his skills and ability. Together these guys create some REALLY entertaining music... and not just smooth jazz either. Sure; this latest CD offers smooth jazz, but in addition it also has funk, progressive jazz, R&B, R&B instrumental, and even dance/disco jazz, all tastefully done and performed to perfection. It's a really nice collection, in my opinion the best Marion has recorded to date, and each song on the CD, first to last, is a winner. The lead-off song is the title track, "Dressed To Chill", a funk number featuring some very funky bass work by Mel Brown and some really nice rhythm work on guitar by unheralded side-man Freddie Fox who spices up the mix with bluesy solo midway through. Brown and Fox along with Mike B form the backbone of Marions Band and are excellent musicians in their own right. "Remember Me", the second track, is a mid-tempo tune with a lush arrangement including synth strings and more excellent work by Freddie Fox. Marion plays a VERY catchy melody that you will find yourself humming for the rest of the day. The composition is highlighted by a solo from my favorite guitarist (and in my opinion one of the best in the business) Chuck Loeb; an EXCELLENT performance. This song is one of the best I've heard this year, and the finished product can be described as beautiful. You'll listen to it over and over and over again. "Dance With My Daughter", the thrid selection on this CD, is another beautiful cut showcasing Marions light, almost etherial style of play. Very nice, mid-tempo song that is well written and performed. Track 4, "Miss Know It All", is the lone vocal cut on the CD. A nice R&B song with a nice performance by singer Will Brock. Marions sax complements the main melody, building to his solo mid-way through the song. Again, nicely written and performed. "Bounce" is an up-tempo number with a repetitive hook and Marion free-styling off the chords in between. This is a mode he has used successfully before, but it's fresh here, especially when he switches to Tenor in the refrain. An intricate rhythm and percussion accompanyment keep this repetitive song interesting. Yes; this one will make you tap your foot... Cut 6 is a remake of R. Kellys mega-hit, "I Believe I Can Fly", but Marion and Mike B have re-made the song in their own image. This is another rich arrangement with nice keyboard and string accompaniment to Marions light soprano melody. Rich, but not sappy or overdone. Very nicely done, and a different take on a classic. The seventh song, "Coco Flow" is an R&B style song with Wah-wah guitar and a harpsicord sound that brings to mind some of the arrangements from the '70s by the late great Barry White and his Love Unlimited Orchestra. Again, Marions improvisiations are flowing, and punctuated by flute flourishes. Another nice song. Track 8, "Just My Style" is done in the same motif as "Bounce"; a catchy, repetitive hook with Marion playing free-style off the chord progression between the hooks. During the refrain he switches to Tenor and blows a smoldering improvisation. This is another tune that will at the least have you tapping your foot, or grabbing your favorite person and dancing on the floor. DEFINITELY a happy tune. Song 9 "Scent Of A Woman" is another sweet song, this time featuring nylon string acoustic guitar work by Thano Shanas. Another nice arrangement by Mike B, with lush strings and a simple but effective piano solo midway through. "Steppers... Let's Do This" is Marions homage to dance/house music with a driving up-tempo beat. Marion shows his "chops" with a couple of difficult "speed riffs" during his improvising. Nicely done. BTW; this song and Track 6 were the only two not produced by Mike B, but rather by Chris "Big Dog" Davis. It should be noted however, that the continuity of the CD is preserved in every sense. This is another tune that will make you move. Track 11, "1000 Dreams" is one of my favorite songs of ALL TIME. Certainly my favorite Marion Meadows/Michael Broening song, this is SERIOUS jazz. Meadows is in EXCELLENT form as he demonstrates his superior ability to improvise over an exquisitely composed accompanying track. Another superlative solo by guitarist Thano Shanas this time playing steel string acoustic guitar puncutates the refrain. Caji Da Bahias' haunting vocals during the hook are the perfect touch, giving the composition a light Brazilian flavor. A rolling grand piano, brushed snare, complimentary precussion, and lush strings (sparingly used) combine to set the mood. Mike B, Mel Brown, and Freddie Fox individually are excellent as usual, and together these guys really smoke. Folks, this is progressive jazz at it's finest, and one of the best songs I've heard in a very long time. "To Love Her" finishes out the album, and it's another serious jazz tune. No fluff here; just great traditional jazz mixed with standard song form. Good piano/keyboard work by Mike B and Freddie Foxs' guitar prefectly complement Marions mood and the vibe he creates. This is an EXCELLENT album. The type of music anyone can listen to and enjoy repeatedly. If you are a Marion Meadows fan, you will not go wrong buying this CD. If you aren't a fan yet, you will be after listening to this album of music. If you like smooth jazz, this CD is a MUST HAVE for your collection. The collaboration between Marion Meadows and Michael Broening has resulted in some really good music in the past... but this CD takes it to the next level. In my humble opinion, this is one of the BEST Smooth Jazz Albums in recent memory, and definitely one of my favorites. I love it and you will too.
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Dressed to Chill
by Marion Meadows
Price:$14.99
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