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Najee: Savoir Faire

By La-Faithia White
December 27, 2022
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American smooth jazz saxophonist and flautist Najee here confirms his status as one of the most talented performers of his genre. On Savoir Faire fans can delight in Najee's assured playing and his general savoir faire when it comes to delivering a polished product. The album is appropriately titled.

"Dr. Dolittle" is a swanky, fun and upbeat track. The horns deliver it super smooth on this one. On "Luna," Najee plays beautifully on the flute; the upbeat track also features multi-instrumentalist Mark Harris II on piano and Kevin Robinson on guitar. "Valentine Love," a classic written by the late great Michael Henderson, features the sophisticated rhythm and blues voice of singer Alyson Williams. Najee's commanding saxophone intro leads into this pleasant collaboration between the two that ends with a memorable scat of "Moody's Mood." "Hurricane," Najee plays beautifully while the horn section compliments him on this track. and a smooth guitar solo by Adam Harley. "Isla Hermosa" is classic Najee, a ballad that evokes a beautiful island and/or a guesthouse. "Modern Lovers," written by drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, is a soft ballad that features the vocals of Frank McCombs and Najee on saxophone. "Savoir Faire" Najee's signature sound is reminiscent on this track making it gracious in its own right.

Track Listing

Dr. Dolittle, Luna, Valentine Love, Happiness (A Felicidade), Isla Hermosa, Hurricane, Bottom To The Top, Modern Lovers, Bounce, Savoir Faire.

Personnel

Najee: saxophone; Frank Wilkens: keyboards; Rohan Reed: bass; Mark Mcclary: drums; Derrick Harvin: keyboards.

Album information

Title: Savoir Faire | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Shanachie Records

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