Boney James (born James Oppenheim, September 1, 1961, Lowell, Massachusetts) is an American saxophonist, songwriter, and producer, widely regarded as one of the defining figures of contemporary/smooth jazz.
He grew up in New Rochelle, New York, and was exposed early to both jazz and soul. Although he started on sax, he also played trumpet in his teens and was heavily influenced by artists like Grover Washington Jr., John Coltrane, and Miles Davis, alongside R&B and pop.
His professional break came in the mid-1980s when he joined Rick Braun’s band, and soon after became music director for Teena Marie, touring and recording with her. Those years sharpened his hybrid style—jazzy phrasing wrapped in R&B grooves and pop hooks.
Music
Trust (1992)
Seduction (1995)
Sweet Thing (1997)
Body Language (1999)
Ride (2001)
Contact (2002, live album)
Pure (2004)
Shine (2006)
Send One Your Love (2009)
Solid (2010)
The Beat (2013)
futuresoul (2015)
Honestly (2017)
Secrets (2019)
Detour (2022)