Saxophone一直是作为爵士音乐的主要旋律乐器的，由于大小和音调的不同也被分为不同的几种，而比较常见的一般就是高音(Soprano)，次高音(Alto)以及次中音(Tenor)，其实也有低音的，由于吹奏难度较大，音域过为低沉，所以吹的人也很少。在这些不同的SAX管中，只有高音管是直管，而且音色较其它类型的SAX更为圆润，所以在Smooth Jazz领域也倍受青睐，黑人音乐家Marion Meadows就是一个专门吹奏高音SAX的Smooth Jazz乐手，为了显示他不象其它SAX手兼吹2种以上的SAX，所以在很多他发行的唱片封面上都能看到他那把直直的高音管。Marion Meadows和其他很多Smooth Jazz乐手一样受到过正统的学院音乐教育，而且是首屈一指的伯克利音乐学院，不过那时所学的是作曲和编曲，但这些知识和技巧在他后来的音乐职业生涯中起到了非常重要的作用。一共发行了9张专辑的Marion Meadows在商业上有着非常不错的成绩，他手中那把音色圆润而舒展的高音SAX管成为了他一生中最为贴近的“伴侣”。 by Jason AnkenySmooth jazz-styled soprano saxophonist Marion Meadows was born in West Virginia and raised primarily in Connecticut; after adopting the classical clarinet at age nine, he moved to the saxophone as a teen, later studying composition and arranging at Boston's Berklee College of Music. A protege of Joe Henderson and Eddie Daniels, Meadows later served a long stint as a member of Norman Connors' Starship Orchestra; after a series of session dates and sideman gigs, he made his solo debut in 1990 with the RCA release For Lovers Only, followed in 1992 by Keep It Right There. Resurfacing two years later with Forbidden Fruit, after 1995's Body Rhythm Meadows jumped to Discovery to issue 1997's Pleasure. He then moved to Heads Up for Another Side of Midnight (1999), Next To You (2000), and In Deep (2002).