The Best of Najee contains a selection of 11 highlights from the smooth saxophonist’s late-’80s and ’90s recordings for EMI/Capitol. There may be a few fan favorites missing, but Najee’s career lends itself better to an anthology than most musicians, mainly because it is oriented toward songs, not performances. Consequently, this disc offers a good overview of his career, since it captures not only many of the best-known songs — “For the Love of You,” “Tokyo Blue,” “Can’t Hide Love,” “Day by Day,” “Betcha Don’t Know,” and “Najee’s Theme” — it also gives a good sense of what his albums sound like. An excellent choice for the curious and casual fan. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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