Rising Sun

Najee

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 14, 2007)
• Original Release Date: August 14, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Heads Up
• ASIN: B000SQJ26O
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #69,036 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Saxophonist Najee, the two-time Grammy nominee and a pioneer of the rhythm and jazz movement of the late ‘80s and ‘90s, continues to shed new light on the contemporary jazz scene with Rising Sun. Always the innovator, Najee blends various shades of straightahead as well as contemporary jazz, classic R&B and even indie rock on this new ten-song set. The result is an album that’s destined to appeal to established fans of his multi-layered groove as well as listeners who are meeting the artist for the first time. The idea was to try to do something a little different from before, says the New York native. But the challenge in that is to always stay true to my own creative identity at the same time. People who are familiar with me and my music have certain expectations, but I’m always looking for something that’s going to make people say, ‘Hey, this is a little different. This is something fresh.’Contributing to this fresh perspective is a coterie of talented songwriters and session players. Producer Chris Davis, who first teamed up with Najee on his previous Heads Up release, returns to the production helm on Rising Sun, and offers numerous songwriting credits as well. Najee also co-authors two tracks with labelmate and Pieces of a Dream keyboardist and songwriter extraordinaire James Lloyd. In addition, the saxophonist borrows a couple songs from the old school as well as the new one from veteran jazz flutist James Moody and another from reigning indie rock songwriter/guitarist John Mayer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Retro Soul with a dash of Samba., August 14, 2007

By	Line of beauty in jazz (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews

"Rising Sun" is Najee's tenth solo album and his second for Heads Up.
This album is a typically accomplished set that is high on melody.
Check "Brazilian Affair" and the vocal floater "Can't Wait Another Minute", which features singer Timmy Maia and Iassac Clemon.
Najee ups the tempo on "Come What May", co-written with James Loyd (of the group 'Pieces of a dream'), who performs beatifully on Fender Rhodes, and "Smooth Sailing".
Phil Perry lends a hand on "Romance the Nite".
However it is the mellow groovers such as "Still In Love" and "Rising Sun" that hit the bullseye.
It's a great set that grows better with each play.
Najee's fans will approve.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars najee- rising sun, June 24, 2009

A Kid's Review

I like Najee's music I like this cd.It starts of with the John Mayer song Clarity from his Heavier-Things CD. Clarity is a soothing and serene song .I would give a listen to the orginal song Clarity it has differnt ending.
all the songs on the CD are good because Najee is a very good musician. He can make magic happen when he plays furthermore,you can feel the joy and the energy in his music. When he plays he plays from the heart and soul. I have been a fan for years because he is simply brillant keep making beautiful music Najee

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Feeling It!, September 10, 2007

By	Reginald A. Lynch "Big Reg" (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Najee, what can I say, I've not heard a Najee Cd that I didn't like< yet this one is a masterpiece, the nice favor and some real nice mixes that were quite relaxing. I started flipping though the tracts like I always do, yet I found myself listening to each track in it's entirety. Nice job a real must have.