Editing Najee

{{Short description|American jazz saxophonist and flutist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name            = Najee
| image           = Najee.jpg
| image_size    = 250
| landscape     = yes
| caption         = Photo by William Henderson
| background    = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name    = Jerome Najee Rasheed
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1957|11|4}}
| birth_place     = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| genre         = [[Jazz]], [[smooth jazz]], [[R&B]]
| occupation     = Musician
| instrument    = Saxophone, flute
| years_active = 1986–present
| label          = [[EMI]], [[Capitol Records|Capitol]], [[Blue Note]], [[Verve Forecast]], [[Heads Up International|Heads Up]], [[Telarc International Corporation|Telarc]], [[Entertainment One Music|E1]], [[Concord Music Group|Concord]] [[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]]
| website = [https://www.najeeofficial.com/ Official site]
}}

'''Jerome Najee Rasheed''' (born November 4, 1957, [[New York City]]), known professionally as '''Najee''', is an American jazz saxophonist and flautist.<ref name="AllMusic"/>

==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,<ref name="AllMusic"/> 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 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 [[Billy Taylor|Dr. Billy Taylor]]) where he honed his skills on tenor saxophone and flute under the direction of [[Jimmy Heath]], [[Frank Foster (jazz musician)|Frank Foster]] and [[Ernie Wilkins]]. 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]], [[Yusef Lateef]], [[Joe Henderson]], [[Grover Washington Jr.]], [[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 [[Ben E. King]].<ref name="AllMusic"/> After touring with Ben E. King, Najee and his brother Fareed attended New York City's [[Bronx Community College]] 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]] of Music in [[Boston]]. Najee was a performance and composition major. He also studied with [[Joseph Allard|Joe Allard]] (1st clarinetist for Toscanini). At the Conservatory Najee studied and performed with [[George Russell (composer)|George Russell]] and [[Jaki Byard]] big bands.<ref>{{cite web|title=Najee:Saxophanist, flutist|publisher=eNotes|first=Debra|last=Reilly|url=http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/najee-biography|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122033918/http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/najee-biography|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-22|access-date=2010-07-17}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:NAJEE.JPG|thumb|Photo from his 2007 album ''Rising Sun'']]
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 [[Chaka Khan]] for the Ain't Nobody Tour. In 1986, he released his debut album, entitled ''Najee's Theme'' (EMI/Capitol).<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|title =Najee: Biography |publisher=[[AllMusic]]|first=Alex|last=Henderson| url =https://www.allmusic.com/artist/najee-mn0000855780#biography |access-date =2010-07-17}}</ref> The album earned Najee a Grammy Award Nomination for Best Jazz Album. In 1987, Najee accepted an opportunity to open on the "[[Tasty Love]]" tour with R&B singer [[Freddie Jackson]]. In 1988, Najee's second album ''Day by Day'' was released and certified gold.<ref name="RIAA"/> ''Day by Day'' was produced by several producers including producer Barry Eastmond (Freddie Jackson, [[Aretha Franklin]], [[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]] 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]], Fareed, [[Marcus Miller]] and Wayne Brathwaite. In 1994, Najee toured and was featured on the live recording ''Live at the Greek'' ([[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]]).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Webber |first1=Brad |title=Stanley Clarke & Friends Live at the Greek |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-01-19/features/9501190041_1_jazz-explosion-superband-star-billy-cobham |access-date=26 November 2023 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=January 19, 1995 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104105238/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-01-19/features/9501190041_1_jazz-explosion-superband-star-billy-cobham|archive-date=January 4, 2015}}</ref> The album featured Najee, [[Stanley Clarke]], [[Billy Cobham]] and [[Larry Carlton]]. It was during this time that he made guest appearances with [[Quincy Jones]] at the [[Montreaux Jazz Festival]].

Following this collaboration, his next album "Share My World" was released in 1994 and was followed by his tribute to [[Stevie Wonder|Stevie Wonder's]] 1976 classic, [[Songs in the Key of Life]] in 1995. The CD was produced by [[George Duke]] and features [[Herbie Hancock]], Stanley Clarke, Paul Jackson Jr., [[Sheila E.]] and [[Patrice Rushen]] among others. His CD ''Morning Tenderness'' was released in 1998, and went to number 1 on the contemporary jazz charts.<ref name="Awards"/> Also within the same year ''The Best of Najee'' was released, (Blue Note Records/Capitol)<ref>{{cite web|title =The Best of Najee: Review|publisher=AllMusic|first=Stephen|last=Erlewhine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-najee-mw0000040342|access-date=2010-07-17}}</ref> and he once again toured on behalf of the USO for the troops in the [[Mediterranean]]: [[Spain]] and [[Turkey]].

In 1998, Najee performed at [[Nelson Mandela|Nelson Mandela's]] birthday celebration in [[South Africa]], along with Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan. Najee was also a special guest of President [[Bill Clinton]] to perform at the [[White House]]. This event was hosted by President [[Jerry Rawlings]] of the Republic of [[Ghana]]. Najee spent three years touring (2000–2003) with [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and appeared on Prince's albums ''Rainbow Children'' and ''One Night Alone''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://theburtonwire.com/2014/01/05/education/jazz-musician-najee-talks-new-music-the-other-side-of-prince/|title=Jazz Musician Najee Talks New Music & The Other Side of Prince|work=The Burton Wire|date=5 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126171234/http://theburtonwire.com/2014/01/05/education/jazz-musician-najee-talks-new-music-the-other-side-of-prince/|archive-date=January 26, 2014}}</ref>

In 2003, Najee released ''Embrace'' which was produced by his brother Fareed, featuring guest artists [[Roy Ayers]] and [[BeBe Winans]]. ''My Point of View'' was his follow-up in 2005 featuring vocalist [[Will Downing]]. In 2006, Najee won an NAACP Image Award for "Best Jazz Artist".<ref name="AllMusic"/> His 2007 album ''Rising Sun'', featured singer [[Phil Perry]]. In 2009, he released ''Mind Over Matter'', with a collaboration that featured vocalist [[Eric Benét]] and producer [[Jeff Lorber]]. In 2012, his album ''The Smooth Side of Soul'' was his first release with [[Shanachie Records]] which featured production from keyboardist and producer Jeff Lorber and saxophonist and producer Darren Rahn. This album featured vocalist [[Phil Perry]] 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]] 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 [[45th NAACP Image Awards|NAACP Image Award Nomination]] for "Outstanding Jazz Album" (2014) and a [[Soul Train Awards]] Nomination for "Best Contemporary Jazz Performance" (2014).<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine|title=Chris Brown & Beyonce Lead Soul Train Award Nominations|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/6281631/soul-train-award-nominations-chris-brown-beyonce|access-date=4 January 2015|date=October 13, 2014|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Erin|last=Strecker}}</ref> The album produced by Demonte Posey, features R&B singer [[Meli'sa Morgan]] 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 (band)|Pieces of a Dream]], 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 (band)|Ambrosia]] song "[[Biggest Part of Me]]". "You, Me and Forever" was produced by Najee, Chris "Big Dog" Davis, and British-born bassist Dean Mark.

Najee has performed and recorded with vocalists including: [[Chaka Khan]], [[Freddie Jackson]], Will Downing, [[Phil Perry]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Patti LaBelle]], [[Toni Braxton]], [[Vesta Williams]], [[Alyson Williams]] and [[Jeffrey Osborne]]. He has also recorded and performed with instrumentalists: [[Marcus Miller]], [[Herbie Hancock]], [[Stanley Clarke]], [[Larry Carlton]], [[Billy Cobham]], [[Charles Earland]], [[Paul Jackson Jr.]] and [[George Duke]].<ref>{{cite web |title =Signed Music Artists: Najee |publisher =Artistopia |url =http://www.artistopia.com/najee |access-date =2010-07-17 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110613145704/http://www.artistopia.com/najee |archive-date =2011-06-13 |url-status =dead }}</ref>

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]]
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Record label
|-
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Billboard 200|US]]</small><br><ref name="Awards">{{cite web |title=Najee - Awards |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/najee-mn0000855780/awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=26 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112082026/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/najee-mn0000855780/awards |archive-date=January 12, 2014}}</ref>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US R&B]]</small><br><ref name="Awards"/>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Billboard charts|US Jazz]]</small><br><ref name="Awards"/>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Independent Albums|US Ind.]]</small><br><ref name="Awards"/>
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Najee's Theme]]''
| align=center | 56
| align=center | 12
| align=center | 1
| align=center | ―
|
* [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]: Gold<ref name="RIAA">{{cite certification|region=United States|artist=Najee|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref>
| align=center rowspan="3"| [[EMI]]
|-
| 1988
| ''Day by Day''
| align=center | 76
| align=center | 23
| align=center | 6
| align=center | ―
|
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Tokyo Blue]]''
| align=center | 63
| align=center | 17
| align=center | 1
| align=center | ―
|
|-
| 1992
| ''Just an Illusion''
| align=center | 107
| align=center | 25
| align=center | 5
| align=center | ―
|
* RIAA: Gold<ref name="RIAA"/>
| align=center | [[Orpheus Music|Orpheus]]/EMI
|-
| 1994
| ''Share My World''
| align=center | 163
| align=center | 23
| align=center | 2
| align=center | ―
|
| align=center rowspan="2"| EMI
|-
| 1995
| ''Najee Plays the Songs from the Key of Life (A Tribute to [[Stevie Wonder]])''
| align=center | —
| align=center | 67
| align=center | 6
| align=center | ―
|
|-
| 1998
| ''Morning Tenderness''
| align=center | ―
| align=center | 65
| align=center | 2
| align=center | ―
|
| align=center | Fan/[[Verve Forecast Records|Verve]]
|-
| 2003
| ''Embrace''
| align=center | ―
| align=center | 82
| align=center | 7
| align=center | ―
|
| align=center | [[N-Coded Music|N-Coded]]
|-
| 2005
| ''[[My Point of View (Najee album)|My Point of View]]''
| align=center | 193
| align=center | 27
| align=center | 1
| align=center | 20
|
| align=center rowspan="3"| [[Heads Up International|Heads Up]]
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Rising Sun (Najee album)|Rising Sun]]'' 
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
| align=center | 1
| align=center | 27
|
|-
| 2009
| ''Mind Over Matter''
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
| align=center | 4
| align=center | 36
|
|-
| 2012
| ''The Smooth Side of Soul''
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
| align=center | 4
| align=center | ―
|
| align=center rowspan="6"| [[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]]
|-
| 2013
| ''The Morning After (A Musical Love Journey)''
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
| align=center | 3
| align=center | ―
|
|-
| 2015
| ''You, Me and Forever''
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
|
|-
| 2017
| ''Poetry in Motion''
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
|
|-
| 2019
| ''Center of the Heart''
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
|
|-
| 2022
| ''Savoir Faire''
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
| align=center | ―
|
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
|}

===Live albums===
* 1994: ''Live at the Greek'' – with Stanley Clarke, Larry Carlton, Billy Cobham (July 1994, [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]])
* 2002: ''[[One Nite Alone... Live!]]'' – with Prince

===Compilation albums===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Billboard charts|US Jazz]]</small><br><ref name="Awards"/>
! Record label
|-
| 1998
| ''Best of Najee''
| align=center | 15
| align=center | [[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]]/Capitol
|-
| 2000
| ''Love Songs''
| align=center | 23
| align=center | Blue Note/Capitol
|-
| 2003
| ''Classic Masters''
| align=center | ―
| align=center | Capitol/EMI
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]]</small><br><ref name="Awards"/>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Billboard charts|US Jazz]]</small><br><ref name="Awards"/>
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1987
| "[[Sweet Love (Anita Baker song)|Sweet Love]]"
| align=center | 55
| align=center | ―
| align=center rowspan="4"| ''Najee's Theme''
|-
| "Feel So Good to Me"
| align=center | 72
| align=center | ―
|-
| "Betcha Don't Know"
| align=center | 45
| align=center | ―
|-
| "Mysterious"
| align=center | 33
| align=center | ―
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1988
| "Personality"
| align=center | 60
| align=center | ―
| align=center rowspan="3"| ''Day By Day''
|-
| "So Hard to Let Go"
| align=center | 55
| align=center | ―
|-
| 1989
| "Najee's Nasty Groove"
| align=center | 88
| align=center | ―
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1990
| "Tokyo Blue"
| align=center | 78
| align=center | ―
| align=center rowspan="3"| ''Tokyo Blue''
|-
| "I'll Be Good to You" <small>(with [[Vesta Williams]])</small>
| align=center | 9
| align=center | ―
|-
| "Cruise Control" 
| align=center | 44
| align=center | ―
|-
| 1992
| "[[I Adore Mi Amor]]"
| align=center | 39
| align=center | ―
| align=center rowspan="2"| ''Just an Illusion''
|-
| 1993
| "All I Ever Ask" <small>(featuring [[Freddie Jackson]])</small>
| align=center | 86
| align=center | ―
|-
| 2009
| "Sweet Summer Nights"
| align=center | ―
| align=center | 1
| align=center rowspan="2"| ''Mind Over Matter''
|-
| 2010
| "Love Forever and a Day After"
| align=center | ―
| align=center | 13
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2012
| "Perfect Nites"
| align=center | ―
| align=center | 1
| align=center rowspan="2"| ''The Smooth Side of Soul''
|-
| "One Night in Soho"
| align=center | ―
| align=center | 18
|-
| 2013
| "Champs Elysees"
| align=center | ―
| align=center | 15
| align=center | ''The Morning After (A Musical Love Journey)''
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
|}

===Other appearances===
* [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] – "Rainbow Children" from the album ''[[The Rainbow Children]]'' (2002)
* [[Will Downing]] – "Street Life" from the album ''Black Pearls'' (2016)
* Will Downing – "Christmas Time Is Here" from the album ''Christmas, Love, and You'' (2004)
* [[Ruben Studdard]] – "[[Close the Door (song)|Close the Door]]" from the album ''Unconditional Love'' (2014)
* [[Brian Simpson (musician)|Brian Simpson]] – "Out of a Dream" from the album ''Out of a Dream'' (2015)
* Paul Brown – "Casablanca" from the album ''Truth B Told'' (2014)
* [[Charles Earland]] – "If Only for One Night" from the album ''If Only for One Night'' (2002)
* [[Pieces of a Dream (band)|Pieces of a Dream]] – ''The Best of Pieces of a Dream, Vol. 2'' (2014)
* ''[[The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz]]'' (2007) "Sidewayz"
* Key-Matic – "Breakin' in Space" (1984, Radar Records (US))<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://hiphopbebop.com/2016/04/key-matic-breakin-in-space.html |title=Key-Matic – Breakin' in Space – Hip Hop be Bop |access-date=2017-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723140858/http://hiphopbebop.com/2016/04/key-matic-breakin-in-space.html |archive-date=2017-07-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Incognito (band)|Incognito]] – "Village Life" from the compilation album ''The Best (2004–2017)'' (2017)
* [[Roberto Tola]] – "With You All the Clouds Go Away" from the album ''Bein' Green'' (2017)
* Nick Colionne – "Buckle Up" from the album ''The Journey'' (2016)
* [[Bob Baldwin (musician)|Bob Baldwin]] – "My Cherie Amour" from the album ''Newurbanjazz.com'' (2008)
* Robert Damper – "Wave" and "You, Me and Forever" from the album ''"D" Tales'' (2017)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.najeeofficial.com Official site]
*{{Discogs artist}}

{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American jazz soprano saxophonists]]
[[Category:American jazz alto saxophonists]]
[[Category:American jazz tenor saxophonists]]
[[Category:American male saxophonists]]
[[Category:American jazz flautists]]
[[Category:Smooth jazz saxophonists]]
[[Category:Smooth jazz flautists]]
[[Category:New Power Generation members]]
[[Category:Heads Up International artists]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians from New York City]]
[[Category:21st-century American saxophonists]]
[[Category:American male jazz musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American flautists]]