Morning Tenderness by Najee (1998)
Jerome Najee Rasheed has used a combination of soprano and tenor saxophones, flute, keyboards, and more to become one of the success stories of smooth-jazz radio. Fittingly, his fifth major recording,Morning Tenderness, is a buttery-soft assortment of R&B-flavored; lite jazz intended to meld quickly and easily into the ears. For fans of smooth jazz and its more urban-influenced predecessor, the Quiet Storm, you may be hard-pressed to find a more agreeable, easy-on-the-ears collection of soft soul and gentle saxophone than on this carefully crafted recording. Smooth-jazz artists typically focus on one of two themes, seduction or relaxation, and, as the title suggests, this 10-track collection serves as a soundtrack for slow Sunday mornings and breakfast-in-bed contentment--music for days when you're riding down Easy Street on cruise control. Najee's admiration for Stevie Wonder is evident in several tracks, particularly "Indian Summer" and the flute-based "Just for You." Seven of the album's tracks feature breathy background vocals as Najee strategically shuffles moods, instruments, and textures. "Room to Breathe," where Najee delivers huskier tones and more soulful playing, is the album's most attractive cut. --Terry Wood