BONEY JAMES
Genres: Pop, Art Song, Folk, RnB • United States

After four gold albums, three Grammy nominations and sales totaling more than 3 million records, chart-topping saxophonist Boney James embodies the phrase “horn of plenty.” “I’m always thinking about making music,” he says. “It’s still my consuming passion.” That passion reverberates throughout James’ latest project, The Beat. The April 9 release marks his 14th album as well as his return to former label Concord Records. It’s a penetrating fusion of R&B, jazz and Latin rhythms given voice by James’ emotive saxophone and such guests as trumpet hitman Rick Braun, R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn and spoken word phenom The Floacist. “There was no sense that this had to be a certain thing,” recalls James, who was between labels when he began recording the album. “I was recording for fun, experimenting with this hybrid R&B and Latin sound, two genres I love. So my playing on this album has a different energy. I think it’s read more...