Najee

"Think before you act and be patient and do not do things based on emotions".

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do.

A. Well, my name is Najee. I am a jazz saxophonist and flautist, a fancy word for flute player.

Q. What or who inspired you to start playing jazz?

A. Well, I grew up in the 70’s in NYC where playing in a band was the thing to do. When I went to August Martin High School, a high school dedicated to the aviation industry in Jamaica Queens, NY, I wanted to be an airline pilot, but one turning event in my life at the age of 15, was a jazz solo and then all the girls knew my name, so I had a quick career change. I really got into jazz by my mom she was a lovely west Indian lady and a jazz fanatic. I was also trained under the late Dr. Billy Taylor in the Jazz Mobile program.

Q. Can you tell us about your new album and the motivation behind it?

A. Yes, well the current album I have out is Center of the Heart. Then I have a new project coming out, named "Savoir Faire". This album was done in Brazil and has guest appearances from Allison Williams and Frank McComb.

Q. What is your favorite song on your new album?

A. I Really do not have one. I have done so much over the 32 years as a solo artist and prior to that played with a few legends, that I believe you go in and give the song what it requires. I do not really have a favorite or a non-favorite.

Q. What made you choose jazz as the genre to pursue?

A. I do not think it was a conscious decision. I just decided to be a musician. The culture back then young musicians were trained in big bands. I thought my first four albums, in my opinion, were R&B with the saxophone. The world labeled me as jazz even though I did not think I was. It is a whole different mindset when you play with different artists.

Q. Tell us about your association with the NY Philharmonic Orchestra?

A. Well, I have never personally played with them, but my father did. He also played with the San Francisco Symphony and the New York Met and with the NBC Orchestra, he was a very prominent person in classical music world, sad to say I never met him due to his early passing. I have worked with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and others in the studio.

Q. What would you say has progressed in your style of music from the beginning verses now?

A. Well, it is a different culture. When I came out back in the late 80’s the media was not easily accessible, and I was fortunate to be able to get on tv shows and programs. We also had retail sales with record stores, now we do not have that, and our sales have declined.

Q. What would be your advice to the young person that is trying to make it in this craft?

A. I would say be yourself. Try to recognize what your voice is and what you are naturally able to do. In my younger days I would try to be just like my idols, but now I know I had to sound like Najee and stop trying to be like other people. Utilize all the resources available to you.

Q. Who was you compared to most coming up earlier in your career?

A. People tried to compare me with Kenny G, George Howard, or Grover but I think it was only because it was a commercial appeal to jazz music not because we sounded alike.

Q. When you heard those comparisons how did that motivate you?

A. I had a profound respect for those artists. People say I opened the jazz

market when my first record went gold, so I never listened to the noise I just did what I did, which was being more of an R&B saxophonist, and it worked for me. I was opening for Freddie Jackson and that opened my audience.

Q. Other than the new album coming out, what else can we expect this year?

A. Oh, we are touring and doing a couple of festivals. I will be in different cities, and you can go to Najeeofficial.com we usually post upcoming dates. We have a big show with Boyz II Men as well as others.

Q. What is left that you have not done that you would like to do?

A. Well, I feel, fortunately, like I am at a legacy stage in my career. I have performed and worked alongside some great people. I can say I have lived out all my dreams. At this point I am just trying to protect the legacy. I had my struggles in the beginning, and at one point I made a sacrifice of my horns and went into banking to support my family. Now I am glad I had people in my corner that pushed me.

Q. Have you ever thought about writing a book?

A. People have been saying I need to catalog all my experiences. I would have never been able to imagine the things I was able to experience in my life, so I would like to record a memoir and tell the story at some point.

Q. If Najee was not your artist name, what would it be?

A. I do not know, Najee is my middle name, I used to go by Jerome Rasheed, but it was not sexy lol. So, Najee was more marketable, and it worked.

Q. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

A. If I had to choose one, I would be invisible. To be a quiet observer of life and people.

Q. What advice would you give to younger Najee?

A. There is a lot of advice I would like to give. The main thing would be not underestimating the power of making decisions. Also think before you act and be patient and do not do things based on emotions.

Q. Outside of music are there any other projects this year?

A. Well, I have been asked to be an ambassador for jazz with the connections to some of the African jazz programs. I am always dedicated to educational efforts as well.

Q. Tell everyone where they can follow you.

A. Najeeofficial for all platforms.