JAZZ

Wednesday, July 25, 2012 6:30PM

Wednesday, July 25, 2012 9:30PM

New York’s Premier Summer Jazz Series Returns…

Join us Wednesday, July 25th for a Smooth Cruise with Najee at 6:30pm or 9:30pm aboard the Spirit of New York.

Celebrate the Smooth Cruises’ 15th year on the Hudson, aboard The Spirit of New York, located at Pier 61, Chelsea Piers (23rd St & West Side Hwy). Experience this one-of-a-kind LIVE JAZZ concert series as you cruise down the river enjoying stellar views of the Statue of Liberty and the breathtaking Manhattan skyline.

The Smooth Cruises sell out quickly, so get your tickets today!

Najee is one of the original innovators of Urban Contemporary Jazz/Smooth Jazz, which grew in popularity throughout the 1990’s and steadfastly remains popular today. With two Platinum and four Gold albums under his belt, the native New Yorker was nominated for a Grammy in 1988 for “Najee’s Theme” and is the recipient of many other music awards including the Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Artist, NAACP Image Award, and Trumpet Awards. Three decades later, he is proving that he’s not done yet!

A quadruple threat who is equally adept on soprano, tenor and alto saxophones and flute, Najee’s technical agility, grace, compositional prowess, unbridled passion, fearless genre bending and superior musicianship have made him one of the most sought after musicians of his generation.

Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to have worked with many great artists including Quincy Jones, Will Downing, Patti La Belle, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Marcus Miller, Joe Sample, Lalah Hathaway, Jeff Lorber, Wayman Tisdale, Dave Koz, Lionel Richie, Gerald Veasley, Jonathan Butler, MAYSA, Ledisi, and was part of Prince’s “Hit and Run Tour”.

Najee’s latest album, “The Smooth Side of Soul,” his first on Shanachie Records, was released in January 2012 and pairs the smooth jazz icon with special guests including Phil Perry, Jeff Lorber, Chris “Big Dog” Davis, and Pieces of a Dream’s James Lloyd. The album is “highly recommended’ by Soul Tracks who notes, “Najee’s latest reestablishes his reign as modern jazz royalty and is another enjoyable addition to his considerable catalog. The Smooth Side of Soul simmers with heat and does everything except serve up a rote recycling of by-the-numbers boring jams.”

Be sure to join us Wednesday, July 25th for a fantastic evening on the Hudson featuring Najee’s superb balance of song-craft and musicianship.