Artists

Najee

Songs From The Key Of Life

Some say that imitation is the finest form of flattery, but Najee's interpretation of Stevie Wonder's 1976 classic, "Songs In The Key Of Life" transforms flattery into a gift of reverence, respect and love. Najee's tribute is his own appreciative offering to Stevie Wonder for the melodies and vital lyrics that touch not only Najee's heart, but also a generation. The result is a special musical event: "Najee Plays Songs From The Key Of Life- A Tribute to Stevie Wonder", reinforces Najee's pre-eminence as an exceptional musician and instrumentalist with few peers, while at the same time reminding listeners of Wonder's incomparable ability as a peerless songwriter.

"I had conversations with EMI Records and we agreed that my sixth album should have a different direction," recalls Najee. "I listened to several albums: we came up with "Songs In The Key Of Life", which was great because I used to play several of the songs when I was with a local band(Area Code) on my teens. Doing these tunes took me back to a certain time in my life and I'm hoping it will do the same for others, while introducing some newer music buyers to some of Stevie's greatest work."

Produced by hit making musical maestro George Duke, Najee Plays "Songs From The Key Of Life", gives Najee the opportunity to showcase his dexterity on soprano sax, alto sax, and flute, an instrument he uses on nine of the album's impressive eighteen cuts. While the basic melodic structures remain the same, Najee's interpretive skills breathe new life into Wonder tunes like Another Star, a percussive treat that features Sheila E.; the almost-classical Village Ghetto Land, recorded 'live' with an eighteen-piece orchestra , conducted by Claire Fisher; the highly evocative Have A Talk With God; and Black Man, a funk-fused groove which Najee lists among his personal favorites.

"Doing this album was certainly challenging", says the genial musician. "Stevie's record was such a popular LP back in the day. The melodies lent themselves to being played by sax and flute although I did discover that in order to reinterpret Stevie's lyrics instrumentally, I had to spend time learning the sounds vocally."

Following the original sequence of Wonder's musical masterpiece, producer Duke and Najee decided to utilize many of the instruments used for the '76 recording. "We tried to stay close to the original concept," Najee notes, "and keep the '70s type feel. That's why you'll hear a Fender Rhodes, wah-wah guitars, the clavinet and moog synthesizers on this album. I also recorded a number of tracks 'live' with the rhythm section, the way albums were done back in the '70s."

In addition to his own musical participation on a variety of Keyboards and synthesizers, Duke also employed a stellar cast of top players for the session. A virtual who's who of major industry musicians, those in attendance included on bass. Stanley Clarke , Chuck Rainey, Freddy Washington, and Byron Miller; guitarists Ray Fuller, Phil Upchurch, Michael Sembello, David T. Walker, Ray Parker Jr., Wah-Wah Watson and Paul Jackson Jr.; James Gadson, Ndugu Chancler, and Michael White on drums.

Keyboard players included Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, Greg Phillinganes, Sylvester Rivers, Jr. and Ronnie Foster; with percussion courtesy Sheila E., and Paulino Da Costa. Arrangers included Jorge del Barrio, Paul Riser, Parker, Phillinganes, Foster, and Duke; while Jerry Hey arranged horns on two cuts.

"I must say that having the opportunity to work with some of the truly legendary musicians of our time was very much a treat for me", Najee comments, adding that his two-year old son Jamal got to participate: his voice can be heard on a special medley of "Isn't She Lovely" and "Joy Inside My Tears", one of three such musical meldings. "We weren't able to do full-length versions of every song since the original album was a double set", Najee notes. "That's why we combined "Saturn" with "Ebony Eyes" and "All Day Sucker" with "Easy Goin' Evening" to ensure that all tunes were included."

From "Pastime Paradise" with its reggae undertones to the melancholy of "ordinary Pain" and the poignancy of "If It's Magic", "Najee Plays Songs In The Key Of Life..." is another triumph for Najee, who has racked up three gold albums since his EMI debut in 1987 with "Najee's Theme".

Born in Manhattan and raised in Queens, Najee spent his formative years performing with legendary acts like Ben E. King and The Main Ingredient. After a world tour supporting Miss Black America in 1976, Najee attended the New England Conservatory of Music, studying Jazz and playing in big bands led by two of his esteemed professors, George Russell and Jaki Byard.

Returning to New York in 1982, Najee performed with The Fatback Band and Chaka Khan. One of Khan's then background singers, Meli'sa Morgan hired musicians in the band for a six-month run at a New York club where Charles Huggins of Hush Productions heard Najee play. Understandably impressed, Huggins in turn introduced Najee to EMI Records executives who promptly signed him to the label. Following the release of his debut album, Najee embarked on a national tour with singer Freddie Jackson, winning audiences over with his dynamic musicianship. Through constant performances in concert and at clubs throughout the country, Najee established a solid and loyal following among the R&B, Jazz and Pop music lovers. As a result, subsequent albums "Day By Day"(19888) and "Tokyo blue"(1992) became chart winners, achieving gold status in the process.

1993's "Just An Illusion" followed, and subsequently, Najee found himself working with a whole range of diverse artists from superstar Quincy Jones, and jazz giants Stanley Clarke and Larry Carlton. Released in 1994, Najee's fifth album "Share My World" kept the momentum going and he notes, "It was one of the busiest years in my careers. We went back to Europe and Japan and I played in Indonesia for the first time. Here in the states, I performed at a number of festivals and I stayed on the road for most of '94".

Now comes "Najee Plays Songs From The Key Of Life...", a superb tribute to Stevie Wonder and an exciting musical treat that promises to take Najee to a new level of international recognition and acceptance. "Sure this is a departure from my previous albums", he agrees, "but it was an incredible learning experience and I'm happy with how it turned out... My opportunity to take us back to this beautiful era," And no doubt Najee's growing audience will wholeheartedly agree: "Najee Plays Songs From The Key Of Life-A Tribute to Stevie Wonder is a tour-de-force, another accomplishment for one of contemporary music's finest instrumentalists.