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Najee

A native New Yorker, Najee began his iconic career playing clarinet, saxophone and flute in his hometown Jamaica, Queens New York. While in high school his tutelage included not only Jimmy Heath but Frank Foster, and Dr. Billy Taylor at the Jazzmobile in Harlem. Honing his skills as a flutist he additionally studied with Harold Jones at the Manhattan School of Music.

Along with his brother Fareed, he continued his musical scope at the “New England Conservatory of Music” in Boston with a concentrated study in performance and composition. Upon their return to New York, they were invited to tour with the songstress Chaka Khan through his association with Me'lisa Morgan who at the time was a background vocalist.

Najee then met Charles Huggins of HUSH Productions who invited him to record his “Grammy Nominated - Platinum Selling Debut Album” entitled “Najee’s Theme” released by EMI.

Najee embarked on a US tour with Freddie Jackson laying the foundation for what has be become a revolution of Urban Contemporary Jazz.

His sophomore album "Day By Day" also achieved platinum. These albums were followed by "Tokyo Blue", "Just An Illusion” and “Share My World”, all of which attained gold sale status.

His next EMI recording was dedicated to one of his favorite artists Stevie Wonder entitled “Najee Plays Songs from the Key of Life: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder” which revitalized to a new generation Wonders' memorable classics.

Najee with his brother and producer of his last seven albums, released "Morning Tenderness". This was the first project released on their new record label FAN. This critically acclaimed album went to number one on the jazz charts.

Najee is the recipient of many music awards including the Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Artist, NAACP Image Award, & Trumpet Awards.

Najee has toured extensively throughout the U.S. including Europe, Asia and Africa. While in South Africa, he performed for Nelson Mandela for the South African leaders birthday celebration. Also was also special guest of President Bill Clinton in a V.I.P. performance at the White House honoring President Jerry Rawlings of the Republic of Ghana.

Throughout his career Najee has had the opportunity to have worked with many great artists such as.... Quincy Jones, Will Downing,Patti La Belle, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Marcus Miller,Joe Sample, Lalah Hathaway, Jeff Lorber, Wayman Tisdale, Dave Koz,Lionel Richie, Gerald Veasley,Jonathan Butler, MAYSA, Ledisi, and was apart of the Prince “Hit and Run Tour”.

As his name is defined, his music can only be attributed as “Close to the Creator”.

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8
Album Review

Najee: Savoir Faire

Read "Savoir Faire" reviewed by La-Faithia White


American smooth jazz saxophonist and flautist Najee here confirms his status as one of the most talented performers of his genre. On Savoir Faire fans can delight in Najee's assured playing and his general savoir faire when it comes to delivering a polished product. The album is appropriately titled. “Dr. Dolittle" is a swanky, fun and upbeat track. The horns deliver it super smooth on this one. On “Luna," Najee plays beautifully on the flute; the upbeat track ...

3
Album Review

Najee: Poetry in Motion

Read "Poetry in Motion" reviewed by Liz Goodwin


On Najee's 15th studio release, and fourth project for the Shanachie label, the Jamaica Queens, N.Y. native delivers an inviting, feel-good album on which he is joined by such diverse talents as pianist/keyboardist Bobby Lyle, multi-instrumentalist/producer/composer/arranger Barry Eastmond, multi-instrumentalist/composer/producer Jean-Paul “Bluey" Maunick, vocalists Will Downing, Maysa and Eric Roberson, and guitarist Blake Aaron. The multi-reedman's 1986 debut, Najee's Theme (EMI), was reflective of its time--an era when modern R & B grooves with jazzy inflections and rhythmic ambiance ...

2
Album Review

Najee: The Smooth Side of Soul

Read "The Smooth Side of Soul" reviewed by Jeff Winbush


It's hard to remember, but there was a time when jazz used to be played in clubs where the audience didn't simply sit in their seats listening attentively and applauding politely; they even got up and danced to the music. Jazz you can dance to? That seems almost as foreign as listening to large round black discs on a device formerly known as a “record player."Well, you can dance to The Smooth Side of Soul if you want ...

441
Album Review

Najee: Mind Over Matter

Read "Mind Over Matter" reviewed by Jeff Winbush


A fixture on smooth jazz radio since his debut album Najee's Theme (EMI, 1986), at this point in his career Najee is more consistent than innovative. He's a worthy inheritor of the title Grover Washington Jr., held as master saxophonist of the genre but, with a few rare exceptions such as Songs From the Key of Life (EMI, 1995), he hasn't strayed far from his usual smooth jazz and funk territory. Najee has a pleasant tone and style to spare, ...

392
Album Review

Najee: Rising Sun

Read "Rising Sun" reviewed by Jeff Winbush


After over twenty years in the business, Najee is what Jules Winfield in Pulp Fiction would call “cool." You never get the sense that Najee is sweating it trying to come up with the right riff. He's just too cool to sweat.Which doesn't mean to suggest that Najee is putting it on cruise control. Rising Sun is only his eleventh album in twenty-one years , so it isn't as if he's just putting out product. As an artist ...

200
Album Review

Najee: My Point of View

Read "My Point of View" reviewed by Woodrow Wilkins


There's something about instrumentalists in contemporary jazz that can make a critical listener nervous. There's an expectation that the music will be bland, if not awful. Guitarists, bassists, and drummers don't seem to fall into this trap--at least not in great numbers. However, smooth jazz players of wind instruments seem almost invariably locked into creating formulaic music. It's as if executives have decided that if the word “programming isn't among the credits, an album isn't worth producing.One of ...

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2

Event

Soulful Sounds Of Christmas Featuring Will Downing & Najee at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT

Soulful Sounds Of Christmas Featuring Will Downing & Najee at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT

Source: Helen Taylor

Usher in the spirit of the holiday season with Soulful Sounds Of Christmas featuring Will Downing & Najee presented by ACT Jams Productions on December 16 at the Palace Theater, 100 East Main Street, Waterbury, CT. Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the box office at 203-346-2000 or online here. Following the concert, guests are invited to take to the dance floor in the orchestra lobby for an Old School Holiday Dance Party featuring everyone's favorite R&B, ...

1

Performance / Tour

Najee To Perform Concert And Tribute In Kansas City

Najee To Perform Concert And Tribute In Kansas City

Source: Artists Recording Collective, LLC

The American Jazz Museum continues on Saturday, February 15th with the second concert in its “Jammin' at the Gem" performance series 2013-2014 season with two-time Grammy Award Nominee, the internationally known jazz saxophonist and flautist, Najee, who will perform work from his latest album “The Morning After". The full title, “The Morning After - A Musical Love Journey “(in short “The Morning After”) released by Shanachie Entertainment October 23, 2013, debuted #1 Contemporary Jazz Album on Billboard. As one of ...

272

Contest

Najee to Perform National Anthem at Orlando Magic Game

Najee to Perform National Anthem at Orlando Magic Game

Source: On Target Media Group

On December 25th, renowned sax-flute superstar Najee will perform the National Anthem at a Orlando Magic/Boston Celtics game. Enter to win a pair of tickets to attend the game with none other than Najee himself, witness his special pre-game performance of the National Anthem, and take home a prize pack of Mind Over Matter--Najee's latest CD and a poster! Mind Over Matter includes guest appearances by keyboardist Jeff Lorber on “Stolen Glances" and “One More Thing," and vocalist Eric Bent ...

126

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Bill Charlap and Sandy Stewart, Najee, Erin Bode, Cornet Chop Suey, and More

Jazz This Week: Bill Charlap and Sandy Stewart, Najee, Erin Bode, Cornet Chop Suey, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Holiday hustle-and-bustle may be going into full effect, but over the next few days there are a number of events in St. Louis that you may want to stop and check out if you're a fan of jazz and creative music.Tonight, singer Erin Bode opens a two-night run at Jazz at the Bistro. If my understanding is correct, this will be a holiday themed show, which means Bode likely will be performing music from her CD A Cold ...

158

Performance / Tour

Najee to Perform Friday, December 11 at the Ambassador

Najee to Perform Friday, December 11 at the Ambassador

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Via a Kevin Johnson blog post at STLtoday.com, word is that smooth jazz saxophonist Najee is coming to St. Louis on Friday, December 11 to perform at the Ambassador Events Center, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd.Billed as a “Jazz Explosion" concert, the show is also supposed to include some “special guests," though no specific musicians were listed. Najee has been part of several package tours using that name in the past, with other recent participants including keyboardist Alex Bugnon, ...

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Event

Jazzman Najee Gives Back to Jamaica, Queens

Jazzman Najee Gives Back to Jamaica, Queens

Source: Michael Ricci

Najee grew up in Jamaica, Queens, and he recently released Mind Over Matter on Heads Up International. Like his two previous recordings, Najee's new CD went straight to the top of Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart (and it's still there).

On Monday, November 16, Najee returns to his old neighborhood in Jamaica to present a jazz workshop/performance at York College for the youth about following one's dreams, being a musician and getting into the industry. The workshop/performance is free and open ...

Tony Exum, Jr
saxophone
B. Thompson
multi-instrumentalist

Photos

Concerts

Apr 13 Sat
Najee
Birchmere
Alexandria, VA

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Savoir Faire

Shanachie Records
2022

buy

Center of the Heart

Shanachie Records
2019

buy

Poetry in Motion

Shanachie Records
2017

buy

The Smooth Side of...

Shanachie Records
2012

buy

Mind Over Matter

Heads Up International
2009

buy

Rising Sun

Heads Up International
2007

buy

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