Boney James Signs With Concord, Plans Summer Release

Saxophonist Boney James has signed a contract with the Concord Music Group and is now working on a brand-new CD to be released this summer. Concord is also home to Peak Records, co-founded by Russ Freeman of the Rippingtons, and the Heads Up label, which works with many smooth jazz musicians.

It was inevitable that James would end his decade-long association with Warner Bros. when the label shuttered its jazz division in 2004. James released eight albums with Warner Bros., including a Christmas album and a duets project with trumpeter Rick Braun in 2000 called Shake It Up.

James' final CD with Warners wasn't too shabby. Released in August 2004, Pure entered the Billboard 200 charts at No. 66 and sold 17,000 copies in its first week, his best debut ever. It was nominated for a Grammy and featured two No. 1 smooth jazz singles, “Here She Comes” and “Stone Groove.” The third single, “2:01 AM,” is still on the charts.

"I’m thrilled and excited to be starting fresh with such a cool, forward-thinking company," says James. "I’m hard at work as we speak. Still hooking up some collaborations, but I already have George Duke and Wah Wah Watson on a track."