JAZZ

NAJEE
Grammy nominated and award-winning international jazz saxophonist and flautist Najee is one of the original innovators of Urban Contemporary Jazz/Smooth Jazz. With two Platinum and four Gold albums, 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, this quadruple threat who is equally adept on soprano, tenor and alto saxophones and flute is still going strong! Throughout his career, he has worked with many greats 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 recently released his highly anticipated new album “You, Me, and Forever”, on Shanachie Entertainment in July 2015. It marks his 16th studio-album and third release on the Shanachie Entertainment label. With his recent Soul Train Award nominated album, “The Morning After – A Musical Love Journey” (which debuted #1 Contemporary Jazz Album on the U.S. Billboard Charts), Najee considers his new work a culmination of who he is as an artist through his experiences in music.

ALEX BUGNON
Contemporary jazz keyboardist and recipient of two Soul Train Music Awards, Alex Bugnon grew up going to the Montreux Jazz Festival in his hometown in Switzerland. He attended the Paris Conservatory of Music for two years, then moved to the United States to attend the Berklee School of Music, while performing as an accompanist to gospel groups. He spent 4 years working as a session musician in New York, backing urban and jazz performers such as Patti Austin, Freddie Jackson, James Ingram, and Keith Sweat. Signed to Orpheus Records, he released his debut album 1989’s, “Love Season,” which reached the pop charts and the Top 40 of the R&B charts, as did its follow-up, 1990’s “Head Over Heels.” Subsequent releases in 1991, 1993 and 1995 all placed in the R&B charts. He signed to the jazz division of Narada Records, which marketed him as a jazz artist, and his sixth album 2000’s, “Alex Bugnon… As Promised,” reached the contemporary jazz charts. He followed with “Soul Purpose” (2001) and several other albums throughout the decade that have also placed on the top contemporary jazz charts. Alex, who makes NYC’s Harlem his home while maintaining his connection to his beloved Montreux, released the albums “Going Home” in 2010 and “Harlem” in 2013.








Note: Line-ups may be subject to change