16 | SMOOTH JAZZ NEWS and advising what I should do in terms of expanding beyond my musical experience. “He was the one who got me to go to Jazzmobile, which was a federally funded program under Dr. Billy Taylor at the time. He saw I was advancing on the ute at the time and advised me to try the preparatory division and take lessons. I then went to college, and my touring career started at 18.” Najee recalled how he set his sights beyond Manhattan at a very young age thanks to his musical prowess. “I toured halfway around the world in a group called Area Code from New York. We played on USO bases in Germany and Italy, Iceland, Greenland, Central America, a lot of places, and then I came back for college. Mr. Vetter was great in advising me. We all need mentors.” e saxophonist continues to pay it forward by working with young musicians and guiding them to professional careers. He spoke enthusiastically about the students he has helped most recently. “I’ve been mentoring this young kid, Ellis Hamilton—he’s now 27, but I’ve been working with him since he was 13, and he’s now a solo artist,” he said. “Ellis has been doing very well at radio—he’s so talented. Riley Richard is another saxophonist I’ve mentored, as well as Gabby Garo, who’s a utist I trained. She started with Ellis and works with Lizzo on tour. For me, this is fun, and I do what I do because it feels good. You are sharing information that you’ve built up. David (Vetter) did it for me and someone like Grover Washington Jr. I was able to pick their brains.” As he heads toward his sixth decade in the music business, Najee has no intention of slowing down. As his most recent albums have demonstrated, he’s still making soulful, high-spirited music that’s the perfect antidote for these challenging times. “ ere’s an old saying I like: ‘Musicians don’t retire, we just can’t hear anymore,’” he said while laughing heartily. “ at’ll be my case. As long as I’m physically able to do it and having fun, I’m going to do it. “It’s still exciting to me because it’s not something you do because you have to. Now, I can actually enjoy it and love it. I’ve always loved it, but now it’s di erent. You can choose gigs that are just fun to do and nancially make sense.” He added that while he maintains a spiritual life and always puts his family rst, Najee’s focus is squarely on his music, which has been his muse since his early teens. He recalled how he almost had a di erent calling before the realities of life intruded and made up his mind for him. “I wanted to be a pilot. I went to high school at August Martin High in Queens, New York. That was the alternate school to the main aviation high school, which was too far to travel for me. And they were starting a new program in 1971. They invited students from my area to go to August Martin, which was sponsored by American Airlines. I went there fully intending to be a pilot. “But, you know, I took my rst solo in 10th grade in the jazz band, and a er that, all the girls knew my name,” he said, laughing once more. “So, I knew what my direction would be a er that. It was all music from that point on. Funny how it works that way sometimes.” For more information on Najee, visit www.najeeo cial.com. continued from page 15 June 14 8th Annual San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park San Diego, California www.sandiegosmoothjazzfestival.com July 18 43rd Annual Winter Park Jazz Festival Rendezvous Event Center Winter Park, Colorado www.playwinterpark.com/jazzfest Nov. 15 Jazz Legacy Foundation 14th Annual Gala Weekend Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia https://jazzlegacyfoundation.org ON TOUR Photo: Will Holton
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