Jerome Najee Rasheed (born November 4, 1957,

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

), known professionally as Najee, is an American

Jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

Smooth Jazz Smooth jazz is a genre of commercially-oriented crossover jazz and easy listening music that became dominant in the mid 1970s to the early 1990s. History Smooth jazz is a commercially oriented, crossover jazz which came to prominence in the 19 ...

saxophonist and flautist.

Early life

Najee was born in the lower west side of Manhattan in New York City and lived his teenage years in Queens, New York. His father died at a young age, and Najee and siblings were raised by his mother Mary Richards. His mother was an important figure and supporter throughout his life and musical career. Najee's musical pursuits began in grade school at age eight, where he began playing the clarinet, but he had a deep desire to play saxophone. He was influenced at this age by listening to his mother's recordings of Miles Davis and other legendary American jazz artists. A pivotal moment in his life came when he made the decision to become a professional jazz musician. In high school, Najee began to study jazz as a student at the Jazzmobile program (co-founded by Dr. Billy Taylor) where he honed his skills on tenor saxophone and flute under the direction of

Jimmy Heath James Edward Heath (October 25, 1926 – January 19, 2020), nicknamed Little Bird, was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually co ...

, Frank Foster and

Ernie Wilkins Ernest Brooks Wilkins Jr. (July 20, 1922 – June 5, 1999) was an American jazz saxophonist, conductor and arranger who spent several years with Count Basie. He also wrote for Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Dizzy Gillespie. He was musical direc ...

. At age 16, Najee studied flute at the Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division, where he took lessons with Harold Jones, flautist from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Najee draws his inspiration from saxophonists John Coltrane,

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

Yusef Lateef Yusef Abdul Lateef (born William Emanuel Huddleston; October 9, 1920 – December 23, 2013) was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer, and prominent figure among the Ahmadiyya Community in America. Although Lateef's main instruments ...

Joe Henderson Joe Henderson (April 24, 1937 – June 30, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than four decades, Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent l ...

Grover Washington Jr. Grover Washington Jr. (December 12, 1943 – December 17, 1999) was an American jazz-funk and soul-jazz saxophonist. Along with Wes Montgomery and George Benson, he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre. He wr ...

, Ronnie Laws as well as flautists Hubert Laws and James Galway. Najee began his career as a teenager performing in local bands in the New York City area. After high school, Najee's first world tour was with a band from New York City called “Area Code”. The band spent two years performing on military bases in Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Central America, Caribbean, and the United States on behalf of the USO . Upon his return from the USO World Tour, Najee went on the road in the summer of 1978 with legendary vocalist Ben E. King ("Stand By Me"). After touring with Ben E. King, Najee and his brother Fareed attended New York City's

Bronx Community College The Bronx Community College of the City University of New York (BCC) is a public community college in the Bronx, New York City. It is part of the City University of New York system. History The college was established in 1957 through the eff ...

for two semesters. Both were music majors under the tutelage of Valerie Capers. The following year both brothers auditioned and were admitted to the

New England Conservatory The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) is a private music school in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest independent music conservatory in the United States and among the most prestigious in the world. The conservatory is located on Hu ...

of Music in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

. Najee was a performance and composition major. He also studied with legendary

Joe Allard Joe or JOE may refer to: Arts Film and television * ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle * ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage * ''Joe'' (TV series), a British TV series airing from 1966 to 1971 * ''Joe'', a 2002 Canadian animated ...

(1st clarinetist for Toscanini). At the Conservatory Najee studied and performed with George Russell and Jaki Byard big bands.

Career

After his studies at the New England Conservatory, Najee returned to New York City in the early 1980s. In 1983 he and his brother Fareed toured with legendary vocalist

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan (), is an American singer. Her career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. Known as the " Qu ...

(Ain’t Nobody Tour). In 1986, he released his debut album, entitled ''Najee's Theme'' (EMI/Capitol). The album earned Najee a Grammy Award Nomination for Best Jazz Album. In 1987, Najee accepted an opportunity to open on the "

Tasty Love "Tasty Love" is a 1986 R&B/Soul single by American singer Freddie Jackson. As the lead single from his second album, ''Just Like the First Time'', it was Jackson's fourth number–one single on the R&B charts, where it was at the top spot for fo ...

" tour with R&B singer Freddie Jackson. In 1988, Najee's second album “Day By Day” was released and went platinum. “Day By Day” was produced by several producers including legendary producer Barry Eastmond (Freddie Jackson,

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...

, Anita Baker and Billy Ocean). In 1990, “Tokyo Blue” was released. This album was produced by Najee's brother Fareed, and is one of his most successful recordings to date. ''Tokyo Blue'' and ''Day By Day'' led to Najee winning two

Soul Train Awards The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which previously aired in national broadcast syndication, and honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of ''Soul Train'', the pro ...

for Best Jazz Artist in 1991 and 1993. In 1992, Najee's next album ''Just an Illusion'' (EMI/Capitol). This album was produced by several producers, including Arif Mardin,

George Duke George M. Duke (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013) was an American keyboardist, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He worked with numerous artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and as a pr ...

, Fareed,

Marcus Miller William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work as a bassist. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandros ...

and Wayne Brathwaite. In 1994, Najee toured and was featured on the live recordin
''Live at The Greek''
(

Sony , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...

). The album featured Najee, Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham and

Larry Carlton Larry Eugene Carlton (born March 2, 1948) is an American guitarist who built his career as a studio musician in the 1970s and 1980s for acts such as Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell. He has participated in thousands of recording sessions, recorde ...

. It was during this time that he made guest appearances with Quincy Jones at the (

Montreaux Jazz Festival The Montreux Jazz Festival (formerly Festival de Jazz Montreux and Festival International de Jazz Montreux) is a music festival in Switzerland, held annually in early July in Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline. It is the second-largest annu ...

). Following this collaboration, his next album "Share My World" was released in 1994 and was followed by his tribute to Stevie Wonder's 1976 classic, Songs In The Key of Life in 1995. The CD was produced by

and features

Herbie Hancock Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and composer. Hancock started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. He shortly thereafter joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he help ...

, Stanley Clarke, Paul Jackson Jr.,

Sheila E. Sheila Cecilia Escovedo (born December 12, 1957) better known under the stage name Sheila E., is an American percussionist and singer. She began her career in the mid-1970s as a percussionist and singer for The George Duke Band. After leaving t ...

and Patrice Rushen among others. His CD ''Morning Tenderness'' was released in 1998, and went #1 on the contemporary jazz charts. Also within the same year ''The Best of Najee'' was released, (Blue Note Records/Capitol) and he once again toured on behalf of the USO for the troops in the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

and

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

. In 1998, Najee performed at Nelson Mandela's birthday celebration in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, along with Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan. Najee was also a special guest of President

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

to perform at the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. ...

. This event hosted President Jerry Rawlings of the Republic of

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

. Najee spent three years touring (2000-2003) with

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...

and appeared on Prince's albums ''Rainbow Children'' and ''One Night Alone''. In 2003, Najee released ''Embrace'' which was produced by his brother Fareed, featuring guest artists

Roy Ayers Roy Ayers (born September 10, 1940) is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer, vibraphone player, and music producer. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Pol ...

and

BeBe Winans Benjamin "BeBe" Winans (born September 17, 1962) is an American gospel and R&B singer. He is a member of the noted Winans family, most members of which are also gospel artists. Winans has released nine albums, seven with his sister CeCe Winans, C ...

. ''My Point of View'' was his follow-up in 2005 featuring his good friend and vocalist Will Downing. In 2006, Najee won an NAACP Image Award for "Best Jazz Artist". His 2007 album ''Rising Sun'', featured singer

Phil Perry Philip Eugene Perry (born January 12, 1952) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, musician and a former member of the soul group, The Montclairs, from 1971 to 1975. He was also known for performing the opening song to Disney’s sitcom, ''Goof ...

and ''Mind Over Matter''. In 2009, he released “Mind Over Matter”, with a collaboration that featured vocalist

Eric Benét Eric Benét Jordan (born October 15, 1967) is an American R&B/neo soul singer-songwriter and actor, who has received a total of four Grammy nominations to date for his musical work. Biography Early life Benét was born on October 15, 1966 ...

and producer Jeff Lorber. In 2012, his album ''The Smooth Side of Soul'' was his first release with

Shanachie Records Shanachie Records is an American, New Jersey-based record label, founded in 1975 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. The label is named for the Gaelic word ''seanchaí'' (anglicised as shanachie), an Irish storyteller. It was previously distribu ...

which featured production from keyboardist and producer Jeff Lorber and saxophonist and producer Darren Rahn. This album featured vocalist

on the lead single, "Just To Fall In Love", which was produced by Chris “ Big Dog” Davis. The video for "Just To Fall In Love" also features actress

Vanessa Bell Calloway Vanessa Bell Calloway ( Bell; born March 20, 1957) is an American actress. Beginning her career as a dancer, Bell Calloway became known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy ''Coming to America'', as well as for her roles ...

and songstress N'dambi. Najee's second release with Shanachie in 2013, "The Morning After - A Musical Love Journey". "The Morning After" earned him an NAACP Image Award Nomination for "Outstanding Jazz Album" (2014) and a

Nomination for "Best Contemporary Jazz Performance" (2014). The album produced by Demonte Posey, features R&B singer

Meli'sa Morgan Joyce Melissa Morgan (usually spelled Meli'sa; born December 6, 1964) is an American R&B/Soul singer–songwriter. Morgan had a string of urban contemporary hits from the mid–1980s to the mid–1990s. Most notable include her cover version of ...

and bassist Brian Bromberg, with musicians Bill Sharpe on bass, Ray Fuller on guitar, Daniel Powell on drums, Nick Smith on piano and drummer Joel Taylor. Najee released his third album with Shanachie, entitled: ''You, Me, and Forever'', on June 23, 2015. The album features singer and songwriter Frank McComb, keyboardist James Lloyd from

Pieces of a Dream Piece or Pieces (not to be confused with peace) may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Games * Piece (chess), pieces deployed on a chessboard for playing the game of chess * Pieces (video game), ''Pieces'' (video game), a 1994 puzzle game f ...

, and pianist Robert Damper. ''You, Me, and Forever'' also features musicians from Najee's touring band including: Rod Bonner on keys, Daniel Powell on drums, RaShawn Northington on electric bass, and Chuck Johnson on guitar who is also the lead vocalist on the popular

Ambrosia In the ancient Greek myths, ''ambrosia'' (, grc, ἀμβροσία 'immortality'), the food or drink of the Greek gods, is often depicted as conferring longevity or immortality upon whoever consumed it. It was brought to the gods in Olympus ...

song "

Biggest Part of Me "Biggest Part of Me" is a song by American band Ambrosia, from the album '' One Eighty''. Released as a single in 1980, the song reached number one on the ''Radio & Records'' chart and number 3 on both the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and Adult Cont ...

". “You, Me and Forever” was produced by Najee, Chris “Big Dog” Davis and British born bassist Dean Mark. The album is currently available worldwide. Najee has performed and recorded with vocalists including:

, Freddie Jackson, Will Downing,

Patti LaBelle Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer, actress and businesswoman. LaBelle is referred to as the " Godmother of Soul". She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singe ...

, Phyllis Hyman,

Vesta Williams Mary Vesta Williams (December 1, 1957 – September 22, 2011) was an American singer-songwriter, who performed across genres such as pop, jazz, adult contemporary and R&B. Originally credited as Vesta Williams, she was simply known as Vesta begin ...

and Jeffrey Osborne. He has also recorded and performed with instrumentalists:

, Stanley Clarke,

, Billy Cobham,

Charles Earland Charles Earland (May 24, 1941 – December 11, 1999) was an American jazz organist. Biography Earland was born in Philadelphia and learned to play the saxophone in high school. He played tenor with Jimmy McGriff at the age of 17 and in 1960 form ...

Paul Jackson Jr. Paul Milton Jackson Jr. (born December 30, 1959) is an American fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist. He was born and raised in Los Angeles. Jackson knew by the age of fifteen that he wanted to become a professional musi ...

and

Discography

Studio albums

* 1986 ''

Najee's Theme ''Najee's Theme'' is the debut album by American jazz saxophonist and flautist, Najee. This album earned Najee a Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Aca ...

'' (1986,

EMI EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At the time of its break-up in 201 ...

/ Capitol) * 1988 ''Day by Day'' (October 1988, Capitol) * 1990 ''

Tokyo Blue ''Tokyo Blue'' is Najee's third album, released by Capitol Records in 1990. Critical reception Jonathan Widran of AllMusic writes, "Immensely pleasurable, a fun listen from beginning to end." ''Smooth Jazz Therapy'' writes of ''Tokyo Blue'', " ...

'' (February 1990, Capitol) * 1992 ''Just an Illusion'' (June 1992, Capitol) * 1994 ''Share My World'' (October 1994, Capitol) * 1995 ''Najee Plays Songs from the Key of Life: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder'' (November 1995, Capitol) * 1998 ''Morning Tenderness'' (November 1998,

Polygram PolyGram N.V. was a multinational entertainment company and major music record label formerly based in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1962 as the Grammophon-Philips Group by Dutch corporation Philips and German corporation Siemens, to be a ...

) * 2003 ''Embrace'' (2003, N-Coded) * 2005 ''

My Point of View ''My Point of View'' is the second album by pianist Herbie Hancock. It was released in 1963 on Blue Note Records as BLP 4126 and BST 84126. Musicians featured are trumpeter Donald Byrd, trombonist Grachan Moncur III, tenor saxophonist Hank Mo ...

'' (2005, Heads Up) * 2007 '' Rising Sun'' (2007, Heads Up) * 2009 ''Mind Over Matter'' (2009, Heads Up) * 2012 ''The Smooth Side of Soul'' (2012, Shanachie) * 2013 ''The Morning After, A Musical Love Journey'' (2013, Shanachie) * 2015 ''You, Me and Forever'' (2015, Shanachie) * 2017 ''Poetry In Motion'' (2017, Shanachie) * 2019 ''Center of the Heart'' (2019, Shanachie) * 2022 ''Savoir Faire'' (2022, Shanachie)

Live albums

* 1994 ''Live at the Greek'' with Stanley Clarke, Larry Carlton and Billy Cobham (July 1994,

) * 2003 "One Night Alone" Live with Prince

Compilation albums

* 1998 ''Best of Najee'' ( Blue Note/Capitol) * 2000 ''Love Songs'' * 2003 ''Classic Masters

Other appearances

* Rainbow Children

* Street Life Will Downing * Christmas Love and You Will Downing * Unconditional Love Ruben Studdard * Out of A Dream

Brian Simpson Brian Simpson OBE (born 6 February 1953) is a British Labour Party politician who was Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for North West England. Born in Leigh, Lancashire, Simpson was educated at the West Midlands College of Education ...

* Truth B Told Paul Brown * If Only For One Night

* The Best of Pieces of A dream Vol. 2

* '' The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz'' * ''Breakin' In Space'' with Key-Matic (1984, Radar Records (US)) * The Best (2004-2017) -

Incognito Incognito is an English adjective meaning "in disguise", "having taken steps to conceal one's identity". Incognito may also refer to: Film and television * ''Incognito'' (1937 film), a Danish film * ''Incognito'' (1997 film), an American crime ...

* Bein' Green -

Roberto Tola Roberto Tola (born August 5, 1966) is an Italian jazz guitarist and composer. Biography Tola began studying music when he was just six years old. In 1976 studies cello in the Conservatory of Music in Sassari. Four years later continues his ...

* The Journey Nick Colionne * New Urban Jazz - Bob Baldwin * “D” Tales - Robert Damper

''Billboard'' charts

''Najee's Theme'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Albums No. 1 :Top Jazz Albums No. 8 :Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 12 :The Billboard 200 No. 56 ''Day by Day'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Albums No. 6 :Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 23 :The Billboard 200 No. 76 ''Tokyo Blue'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Albums No. 1 :Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 17 :The Billboard 200 No. 63 ''Just an Illusion'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Albums No. 5 :Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 25 :The Billboard 200 No. 107 ''Share My World'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Albums No. 2 :Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 23 :The Billboard 200 No. 163 ''Songs from the Key of Life'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Albums No. 6 :Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 67 ''Morning Tenderness'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Albums No. 2 :Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 65 ''The Best of Najee'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Albums No. 15 ''Love Songs'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Albums No. 23 ''Embrace'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Albums No. 7 :Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 82 ''My Point of View'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Album No. 1 ''"Rising Sun"'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Album No. 1 ''"Mind Over Matter"'' :Top Contemporary Jazz Album No. 2 :Billboard Jazz Album No.4 "Sweet Summer Nights" :Smooth Jazz Song No. 1 “The Morning After” :Top Contemporary Album No. 1 “You Me and Forever” :Smooth Jazz Global Radio No. 1 :“Fly With The Wind” No. 1 most added song "Poetry In Motion" "Let's Take It Back" - Featuring Incognito :Billboard No. 1 :Smooth Jazz Global Radio No. 1

References

External links

Official site
{{Authority control American jazz soprano saxophonists American jazz alto saxophonists American jazz tenor saxophonists American male saxophonists American jazz flautists Smooth jazz saxophonists Smooth jazz flautists New Power Generation members Living people Heads Up International artists Musicians from New York City 1957 births Jazz musicians from New York (state) 21st-century saxophonists American male jazz musicians 21st-century flautists