Conceived as a musical journey of love,
Najee's 2013 album,
The Morning After, finds the sweet-toned, smooth jazz saxophonist delivering a set of songs that bring you along on a sensual and romantic road trip. The album follows up
Najee's equally as passionate 2012 release,
The Smooth Side of Soul. Along with a bevy of superb studio musicians,
Najee is backed here by a capable rhythm section featuring keyboardist
Demonte Posey, guitarist
Ray Fuller, bassist
Bill Sharpe, and drummer Daniel "dpondrums" Powell. Also featured is vocalist
Meli'sa Morgan, who adds her warm and throaty vocal presence to the intimate R&B-infused track "In the Mood to Take It Slow." Elsewhere on
The Morning After,
Najee delves into the buoyant, streamlined jazz funk of "Rendezvous," the smooth jazz noir of "Paseo Nuevo," and the sparkling, groove-oriented "Trip to the Moon." Those tracks, as with all of the songs on
The Morning After, are supremely romantic, soulful songs that straddle the line between contemporary R&B, instrumental jazz, and pop. ~ Matt Collar