Marion Meadows' third Heads Up International release, In Deep, finds the sax player/songwriter/producer successfully infusing his distinctive sound with elements of hip-hop, neo-soul, and R&B. Along for the ride are Bob Baldwin, Will Downing (on the mid-tempo "Don't Wanna Know"), guitarist Ray Obiedo, Spyro Gyra guitarist Julio Fernandez, and emerging keyboardist/producer Michael Broening. The supple "Show Me, Show Me" is both sensuous and funky. Trumpeter Roy Hargrove doubles with Meadows on the slick, uptown "Soul Food." Other standouts are the smooth "Yeah Baby," the mellow "Treasures," "Is That You," "Slow Motion," and the dynamic title track.
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