Two-time Grammy award nominee and internationally known jazz saxophonist and flautist Najee is taking his fans on a musical love journey with the release of his new CD—and second Shanacie Records effort—”The Morning After.”
“I’ve built a romantic CD of places that I have been before,” said the musician who was born Jerome Najee Rasheed in New York City. “All of the songs have a different meaning and a different feel and are about different places like Mozambique. I want people to feel like they have had a rendezvous at the airport or have taken a trip to the moon.”
Najee enlisted the help of long-time friend, singer Meli’sa Morgan to help bring the sass to the “The Morning After.”
“It was nice playing with Mel’isa. We started together in Chaka Khan’s band, that’s where we first met. She gets a great response from the audience when we’re on the road,” he said.”When you’re in the game at an early age, you want to prove to the world that you belong in the game. But now, you know it’s about having a good life.”
In addition to Morgan, Najee’s chose to work with other music industry heavyweights including producer Demonte Posey and Jazz Bassist Brian Bromberg.
Najee has been receiving a positive response from “The Morning After” listeners. The album debuted as the No. 1 Contemporary Jazz Album on the Billboard chart the week of its release.
The New England Conservatory of Music graduate is always evolving as an artist and musician. He exploded onto the musical landscape in 1986 with the classic “Najee’s Theme” and hasn’t stopped making waves in the jazz world since. He even released a greatest hits album in 1998. Throughout his career, Najee has worked with countless musicians and singers like Billy Cobham, Larry Carlton and the late great George Duke.
His song “Tokyo” on the new record pays homage to Duke who passed away from leukemia in August.
“The groove on that song is reminiscent of what George used to do,” said Najee who worked with Duke in 1992 on his “Just an Illusion” CD.
The two also toured together and played with Quincy Jones and produced Najee’s “Songs in the Key of Life” album.
“I performed with George in March or April in Detroit and I saw that he wasn’t the same old George but he was a relaxed spirit when it came to working with people,” Najee recalled. “He let artists be who they are.”
Najee, who divides his time off between Los Angeles and New York City, is glad that his fans are accepting him as the eclectic musician that he is.
“With me, I just keep doing what I do. It’s like swinging a golf club, sometimes your trajectory is off and sometimes it’s on. I do what comes natural to me,” he said.
(“The Morning After” can be purchased at www.najeemusic.com)
