With two platinum and four gold albums, saxophone and flute sensation Najee is one of the pioneers of contemporary jazz and one of the best-selling instrumentalists of the mid-‘80s and ‘90s. A recipient of countless awards, Najee counts the Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Artist in 1991 and 1993 among his many honors. His label debut for Heads Up, My Point of View, releases August 23rd.
Sexy saxman Marion Meadows, whose ethnic mix is Native American, African American and Caucasian — grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, where he began playing clarinet and studying classical music at eight years old. Honing his sweet and funky soprano sound in Europe, Marion’s early success abroad convinced him to dedicate his life to music. His latest release, Player’s Club, continues to win Meadows converts and kudos among contemporary jazz’s cognoscenti. Moving effortlessly between contemporary jazz and soulful R&B, this recording marks the saxophonist’s ninth album overall and fourth for Heads Up.
For nearly two decades, saxophonist Walter Beasley has wielded his rare combination of talents as an instrumentalist as well as a vocalist to build a compelling contemporary jazz discography and an international reputation as a soulful live performer. His Heads Up International debut (released April 26, 2005), For Her, is a heart-rendering album chronicling the bittersweet landscape of love and romance.
Keyboardist James Lloyd, drummer Curtis Harmon and former bassist Cedric Napoleon formed Pieces of a Dream emerging out of Philadelphia’s fertile music scene in 1976. The group based their name on Pieces of Dreams, a cover tune by Stanley Turrentine that the group performed. In 2001, Pieces of a Dream signed with Heads Up International and celebrated their 25th anniversary with what was undoubtedly their best album in years, Acquainted with the Night. Even after all this time, their 2004 release No Assembly Required shows that the band continues to advance both their musical vision and appeal.
Born in Philadelphia, bassist Gerald Veasley started playing when he was 12. In the 1980s, Veasley had developed into a versatile and reputable sideman and session player. He joined Grover Washington’s band in 1986 and played on six of the sax players recordings. Two years later, he moved on to the Zawinul Syndicate, led by fusion pioneer Joe Zawinul, co-founder of Weather Report. His upcoming July 26th release, Gerald Veasley at the Jazz Base, (his first-ever live recording) is a textured piece that reinterprets the decade-long oeuvre of a highly talented bassist and presents it in a way that is certain to be eye- and ear-opening for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
For all of his success as a musician, Detroit-based contemporary jazz virtuoso Alexander Zonjic is also something of a juggler. In addition to his primary career as a flutist, performing over 100 shows a year, Zonjic is part owner of a nightclub serving the Motor City, and host of a popular five-day-a-week morning show on Detroit’s Smooth Jazz V98.7. While some musicians might be overwhelmed by such a hectic and diverse schedule, Zonjic maintains a positive, forward-thinking attitude that permeates his music. Seldom Blues, his latest album on Heads Up International, deftly demonstrates this jazz juggernaut’s compelling catalog of talents.
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