It's been nearly twenty years since his debut
Najee's Theme
set the pace for the explosion of urban vibes in the genre that evolved into smooth jazz, and the versatile New York based saxman and flutist is still innovating in the early 2000s. After hanging and touring with
Prince
during the early part of the decade, his signing with contemporary jazz and world music Mecca Heads Up -- and releasing 2005's
My Point of View
-- brought the Najee vibe to a whole new generation of jazz and old-school soul fans. Rising Sun was an even more exciting and diverse date, with Najee drawing from a wide range of pop, world and jazz influences to complement trademark groove ballads ("Can't Wait Another Minute") and lively light funk gems like "Come What May" and the seriously jumpin' old-school jam "Out of a Dream." Both of these sizzling horn-textured tracks were co-penned by the saxman with
Pieces of a Dream
keyboardist
James Lloyd
, who also produced tracks on
My Point of View
. Najee creates an appealing hybr