Boney James - Send One Your Love
No, it's not his hat. Although he's his trademark. Maybe his early fusion of R&B and hip-hop with smooth jazz, we could observe in his albums Trust (1992), Backbone (1994), Seduction (1995), Sweet Thing/It's All Good (1998), Body Language (1999), Shake It Up w/Rick Braun (2000), Ride (2001), Pure (2004), and Shine (2006). Let's call it Urban Jazz. He also offered some Christmas albums like Boney's Funky Christmas (1996) and Christmas Present (2007). On his new album Send
One Your Love (2009) Boney offers a splendid mix of own compositions
and covers, all produced and recorded by himself in various studios in and
around L.A. and New York. The formula is recognized and so await nothing
new, but much long-standing and well-tried. Stevie Wonder composed Send One Your Love for his album Journey through the Secret Life of Plants (1979). This song has never lost its attraction as shown in Boney's rendition. Stop, Look, Listen was a hit of The Stylistics in 1971 and is graced now by Boney's cover. John Klemmer paved with his album Touch (1975) the path to the smooth jazz genre. Boney James' rendition is a homage to the groundbreaking tune of the doyen of smooth jazz. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight was released in 1972 by James Taylor on his album One Man Dog. James re-did this great song on Michael Brecker's Jazz CD Ballads that came out a few years ago. Boney James presents on his slow tempo cover the fantastic singer Quinn. Quinn was working as an Atlanta-based session singer. "I started asking friends if they knew a young singer who should be a star," Boney says. "I got Quinn's MP3 in an e-mail. The next day I flew him to L.A. and cut the track in two takes!" Boney James own
compositions like Hold On Tight stand in the new concept of this
album. "I spent a lot of time figuring out what the order of the songs was
going to be," James says. "I wanted this to be an album, not just a
collection of songs. I wanted to tell a romantic story from the beginning
to the end." The slow ballade City Of Light enjoys with mellow sax and Stefan Harris decent vibes. Soft as Butter melts the next romantic tune into your ears. The final tune I'll Be Good To You is a huge hit song by R&B duo The Brothers Johnson from their debut album, Look out for #1(1976). Later it was a new hit by Chaka Khan. Boney's cover is smooth and unobtrusive. Boney James' new album
has already found the way to his fans. Boney always knows to perform in a
seductive and captivating way. This sultry blend of covers and originals
keep you in the right mood.
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Boney
James has a great fan community. His new album Send One Your Love
claimed the top spot on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart in its
first week. What makes this musician so popular?
