Boney James Pure CD

Live Recording

Personnel: Boney James (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, keyboards, programming, drum programming); Boney James; Debbie Nova, Lauren Evans, Debi Nova (vocals); Rohn Lawrence (guitar, electric guitar, wah-wah guitar); Tony Miaden, Marlon McClain, Tony Maiden, Eric Walls (guitar); Dean Parks (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Ralph Morrison, Sara Parkins (violin); Roland Kato (viola); Cecilia Tsan (cello); Dan Higgins (tenor saxophone); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Bill Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); Morris Pleasure (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Clavinet, keyboards); David Torkanowsky (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer organ); Bobby Lyle (piano); Kurt Clayton (Fender Rhodes piano); Darrell Smith (Clavinet); Tim Carmen (organ); Phillipe David, Greg "Frosty" Smith, Johnny Britt, Rex Rideout (keyboards); Pino Palladino (bass instrument); Ahmir Khalib Thompson, ?uestlove, Ricky Lawson, Teddy Campbell (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Dwele, Bilal (vocals); Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Joe Sample (piano); Billy Preston (organ); Luis Conte (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Serban Ghenea.
Recording information: Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY; Kar Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA; Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Sear Sound Studios, New York, NY; Studio A Recording, Dearborn, Heights, MI; The Back Yard, Los Angeles, CA; The Hit Factory, New York, NY; Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, CA.
Photographer: James Minchin.
Arranger: Greg "Frosty" Smith.
Some who have followed Boney James' incredible trajectory in smooth jazz land -- which includes four gold albums and a Grammy nomination for his previous disc, Ride -- might think it's a risk for the popular saxman to take all the production reins himself. He's always been an outstanding, soulful player, but producer Paul Brown's cool, R&B-driven vibe helped make stars out of him and numerous of his peers. James shows tremendous confidence in that chair here, keeping his trademark seductive vibe going with a sweet and sassy mix of easygoing ballads, catchy R&B vocals, and more creative stretching exercises. As producer, his crowning achievement here is the simmering, brassy blues texturing of the vocal/sax tune "Thinkin' 'Bout Me," which is what might have resulted years ago had Sly Stone included Junior Walker as part of his family. As composer, that piece and the midtempo easy funk jam "Stone Groove" are the catchiest, with both allowing for just enough sax solo time amidst the horn textures. As a bonus, "Stone Grooves" includes a touch of class via a frisky Joe Sample piano solo that, alas, doesn't last long enough. James knows his market and knows that man does not live by great sax alone. He has a great time encouraging some developing R&B vocal talents who are sure to make more noise on their own, from Bilal to his new labelmate Debbie Nova and Dwele. The Nova tune "Appreciate" is such a crisply produced pop confection that James should consider helming more strictly vocal projects. For those who don't think the busy production here lives up to the title of the disc, there's the title cut itself -- simple, soulful, and dreamy as the genre gets. ~ Jonathan Widran
Nine albums into his career, Boney James makes a grab for the smooth-jazz crown with PURE, an outing that finds him working with a mix of soul and jazz luminaries. James ups the stakes by taking over the production reins (in addition to co-writing every song). Still front and center with his beloved tenor saxophone, this Grammy-nominated artist shifts to soprano sax for the harmony-soaked Bilal duet "Better with Time" and the silk sheets-and-champagne slow jam "Break of Dawn," featuring up-and-coming Detroit crooner Dwele.
Debi Nova adds her lovely vocals to the beat-driven "Appreciate," a cut that wouldn't sound out of place on a Toni Braxton or Brandy album. Instrumentals are still the focus, however, as revealed on the light funk of "Here She Comes" and the snappy "Stone Groove" (featuring Cr