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Najee is a Grammy-nominated saxophonist and flautist known for his decades-long career in jazz, R&B, and contemporary music. He has collaborated with numerous notable artists and received multiple awards for his contributions to music.
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Request A ShowNajee collaborated with Prince on his albums 'Rainbow Children' and 'One Nite Alone' and toured with him from 2000-2003.
Najee has collaborated with Quincy Jones and made guest appearances with him at the Montreaux Jazz Festival.
Najee released a tribute album to Stevie Wonder's 'Songs in the Key of Life' and performed with him at Nelson Mandela's birthday celebration.
Najee toured with Chaka Khan for the 'Ain't Nobody Tour' in 1983 and performed with her at Nelson Mandela's birthday celebration.
Najee collaborated with Herbie Hancock on various projects.
Najee owned 'Chaser Winds LLC' in partnership with Darron McKinney, producing the 'Najee Platinum Series Saxophone'. The company ceased operations due to logistical challenges during Covid-19.
Najee uses a 24-karat gold Brannen Brothers' Flute for recordings, indicating a preference for high-quality instruments.
Jerome Najee Rasheed, known professionally as Najee, was born on November 4, 1957, in New York City. His early life in Queens, New York, was shaped by his mother, Mary Richards, who supported his burgeoning musical interest. At age eight, Najee began playing the clarinet, transitioning to saxophone and flute with a deep passion for jazz. He refined his skills at the Jazzmobile program under the guidance of jazz legends like Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, and Ernie Wilkins. At 16, he furthered his flute studies at the Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division with Harold Jones of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. These early experiences established a strong foundation in both classical and jazz traditions, influenced by artists such as John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Yusef Lateef, Hubert Laws, and James Galway.
Najee’s professional journey began as a teenager, performing in local New York City bands. His first world tour at 18 was with the band “Area Code,” entertaining troops on USO military bases across Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean. Following this, he toured with Ben E. King in 1978. He continued his music education at Bronx Community College and the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied performance and composition and played with George Russell and Jaki Byard’s big bands. This period of intense study and early touring provided him with diverse performance experience and refined his instrumental abilities.
Returning to New York City in the early 1980s, Najee toured with Chaka Khan in 1983 for the “Ain’t Nobody Tour.” In 1986, he debuted with “Najee’s Theme” on EMI/Capitol, earning a Grammy Award Nomination for Best Jazz Album. His second album, “Day by Day” (1988), achieved gold certification, followed by “Tokyo Blue” (1990), which became one of his most successful recordings. These albums led to Najee winning two Soul Train Awards for Best Jazz Artist in 1991 and 1993. Over his career, he has released 18-19 albums, with six reaching #1 and five singles topping the Billboard charts. His extensive collaborations, tours, and awards underscore his sustained impact on the contemporary jazz and R&B landscape.
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