Marion Meadows joins Jazz on the Rocks line-up

World-renowned soprano saxophonist, Marion Meadows, has joined the line-up of Jazz On The Rocks 2014 which, as usual, is being held at the beautiful Tietiesbaai beach in the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve on the West Coast from Thursday February 27 till Monday March 3!

Described as a ‘multi-talented saxophonist and consummate creative spirit’, and ‘a charismatic, strikingly handsome, eloquent and debonair musician, who happens to moonlight as a brilliant digital designer/photographer, and semi-professional cyclist originally had aspirations to become a veterinarian. This is obviously a man not to be missed.

Born in West Virginia, saxophonist Marion Meadows grew up in Stamford, CT, where he began playing clarinet and studying classical music at age 8. He naturally gravitated to the soprano sax in his high school years, and his passion for various types of music led him to appreciate numerous jazz musicians, including Stanley Turrentine, Sidney Bichet, Johnny Hodges, Duke Ellington and Coleman Hawkins. Meadows took a few very important trips to Europe with his high school band during his junior and senior years. Originally planning to enter a college pre-med program (he had aspirations to pursue a career in veterinary medicine or zoology), he considered the saxophone a hobby until he saw the way audiences reacted to him and his fellow student performers in Holland, Italy and Austria. After studying jazz with Anthony Truglia, Meadows attended Berklee College of Music, where he majored in arranging and composition. He later went to the SUNY Purchase School for the Arts, where he studied under Ron Herder. “I got a lot of sideman jobs in college, and I have always said I got a graduate degree playing clubs,” says Meadows, who perfected his craft studying with Joe Henderson, Dave Liebman and Eddie Daniels. “Not long after I finished school, (drummer) Norman Connors recorded my song ‘Invitation’ and then asked me to join his band. I later produced his Passion album with him. Things just fell into place.”

Meadows first hit the airwaves in 1991 with For Lovers Only, but his career really began one day in the late ‘80s at New York’s Grand Central Station. He had been a sideman with Connors for three years, with only vague notions of eventually going solo. One day, while waiting for a train, he pulled out his horn and began playing under the huge dome. His sweet sound caught the attention of fellow traveler and TV composer Jay Chattaway, who was so impressed that he hooked Meadows up with legendary keyboardist Bob James. James signed Meadows to a deal with his TappanZee label, and though Meadows’ first recording went unreleased, the experience put him on the road to his eventual success.

Meadows hooked up with numerous artists and musicians and became a well known sideman in his own right, recording or performing over the years with Brook Benton, Eartha Kitt, The Temptations, Michael Bolton, Will Downing and Native American flute player Douglas Spotted Eagle, among many others.

Marion Meadows joins a already great line-up featuring:

LIRA, Judith Sephuma, Euphoria; N2; Ernie Smith; Nash Reid; DJ Keith; Stanley Engelbrecht; Zami Mdingi; Just Listen feat Lee Stag; Salome; Andrew Young; V.J.R; Public Opinion;  Vernon Castle; SAX Appeal feat Don Veno Prins; Classic Jazz Masters;  Stan the Jazz man; West Coast All Stars feat Allou April;  DJ Brain Bohorne and Uncle Cal.

Clarence Ford, Jazz on the Rocks founder, says that the Tietiesbaai camp site within the Nature Reserve has already been sold out. ‘Sites went on sale on June 1st and were sold out by June 7. He said. ‘But don’t panic, there are lots of accommodation options in the area.  Tietiesbaai is close to Paternoster (the crayfish playground in the Western Cape), Langebaan (with its casino) and the town of Vredenberg so you will find plenty of options from camp sites to luxury accommodation.

Those who will be staying in the area, regardless of where, qualify for a weekend pass at R400 per person. You can find purchase details on www.jazzontherocks.net.

‘The Saldahna Bay Municipality has vision’ said Ford. ‘They saw the potential for growing tourism and, at the same time, teaching people the importance of keeping a pristine location, pristine!

‘We also involve The ‘Too Precious To Pollute Campaign’ a project of the Department of the Environmental Affairs, and after four days of partying there was not a bottle, can or crisp packet to be seen.’

A special treat for young and old is a nature trail conducted by one the Nature Reserves’ rangers.  The swimming is safe – lifesavers on jet skis constantly patrol the bay – and the music ends at midnight.  Leaving the rest of the evening for people to enjoy the night sounds and watch a sky that is breathtaking.  Stars, us ‘City Slickers’ never see because of all the lights reflecting in the sky.

Visitors with weekend passes will find parking allocated in Cape Columbine Nature Reserve with regular and efficient shuttle services operating from the parking area to the stage on the beach.

The local community will provide delectable West Coast sea Food to visitors. Visitors are encouraged to buy food from these vendors for a holistic West Coast experience. This area relies on fishing generally and crayfish in particular and sadly crayfish has recently been added to The Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) ‘Orange’ List –endangered but not yet illegal – so by purchasing your seafood there you will be helping our efforts of encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit in this poverty stricken community.

Attendees are subsidized by our generous sponsors. These sponsors are ultimately responsible for all of our successes registered to date. They are the Department of Fisheries and The Saldahna Bay Municipality, Nedbank, Old Mutual and The WC Government’s “Too Precious to Pollute” Campaign.

Find more details, the programme and special offers on jazzontherocks.net