Sax-Man Boney James to Play bergenPAC, 5/5
By: Tyler Peterson Mar. 25, 2016
Boney James is a four-time Grammy Award nominee and a Soul Train Award winner. He has also been honored with two NAACP Image Award nominations for Best Jazz Album. He has accumulated four RIAA Certified Gold Records. In 2009 Billboard magazine named James the No. 3 Billboard Contemporary Jazz Artist of the Decade.
The multi-platinum selling sax-man continues his artistic evolution with the dynamic "futuresoul." Fusing his love for vintage soul music with his mastery of modern production, Boney has created another genre-bending work following on the heels of his 2014 GRAMMY nominated album The Beat.
Inspired by early influences like King Curtis, the Stylistics and Earth, Wind & Fire, his 15th CD, "futuresoul" contains 10 original songs produced and written or co-written by James. The 'Analog' tone of the Sax combined with the 'Digital' sounds of modern production contribute to the sonic tension that fuels "futuresoul." The album release coincides with Boney's 2015-16 tour.
Born James Oppenheim, he was nicknamed "Boney" in his mid-20's when a meager touring per diem saw him growing thinner. Following early pro gigs, (including sideman stints with Morris Day, The Isley Brothers, Randy Crawford and Teena Marie) James released his debut album as a leader, Trust, in 1992.
Over the following 23 years James has racked up sales of more than 3 million records, four RIAA gold albums, four GRAMMY nominations, a Soul Train Award, nominations for two NAACP Image Awards and 10 CD's atop the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. In 2009 Billboard Magazine named him the #3 Contemporary Jazz Artist Of The Decade (trailing just Kenny G and Norah Jones).
Known for blurring the lines between genres, according to the Boston Globe, "his music is muscular and gritty, whereas most smooth jazz has all the texture and complexity of a cue ball...James swaggered across the stage like a blacktop hero draining treys on an overmatched opponent. He even weaved his way through the audience, never missing a beat and all but daring the crowd not to have a good time."
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