Smooth Jazz at The American Theatre
Smooth Jazz at The American Theatre
Two jazz greats — Marion Meadows and Marc Antoine — come together for one spectacularly smooth evening.
Marion Meadows has played with some of the music industry’s greats, including The Temptations, Michael Bolton, and Eartha Kitt. As a solo artist, he’s released a staggering 13 albums, including his latest, “Soul Traveler,” which combines the intoxicating sounds of smooth jazz, fusion, and contemporary jazz.
“I’ve always been an advocate of pushing the envelope a little bit, even with smooth jazz,” Meadows said in an interview with JazzTimes. “I wrote a lot of my own songs earlier in my career, then accepted the work of others before now writing and co-writing my own material again. It gives my music more continuity. My music’s about making my mark, especially as a jazz artist at a time when you have so many sax players out there.”
Classically trained at the International School of Classical Guitar, Marc Antoine first became known to urban jazz audiences when he toured with Basia. Keeping his deep melodic flow and exotic melodic textures front and center, Antoine has established himself as a global star in contemporary jazz.
Audiences can expect to hear Antoine’s trailblazing sound, including selections from “Laguna Beach” — inspired by his return to the West Coast after years in Madrid. “Like many of my recordings, the album is marked by a cool stylistic diversity,” says Antoine. “I guess if I ever settled for a single style and did a blues or bossa nova record, it would be great, but as with my tours and travels, I’m never in the same place all the time.”
“It’s thrilling to welcome two world-renowned musicians as the final Premier Performance Series event in our 30th anniversary season,” said Hampton Arts Artistic Director Richard M. Parison, Jr. “Marion Meadows and Marc Antoine’s collective discography is an astounding retrospective of musicianship. It’s a grand finale to what has been a season of diverse sounds and stories that contribute to the fabric of Coastal Virginia. We look forward to returning next fall with more exciting programming and community engagement.”