Boney James

Making his saxophone sing like a human voice--that's BONEY JAMES. Soulful and gifted, the three million-selling saxophonist and songwriter is one of today's most respected and best-selling instrumental artists and performers. With his latest album SEND ONE YOUR LOVE (Concord)--featuring "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," nominated for a Grammy for "Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance"--BONEY furthers his longstanding reputation as a major force in both the worlds of Contemporary Jazz and R&B. The East Coast-raised and Los Angeles-based artist has not only sold over three million albums--he's earned a string of 12 hit records (including 8 Billboard Contemporary Jazz #1's) and garnered an array of honors: a Soul Train Award for Best Jazz Album, three Grammy nominations--two for Best Pop Instrumental Album and one for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance--and an NAACP Image Award nomination.

 

2009 was truly a watermark year for BONEY. Billboard ranked him the #1 "Hot Smooth Jazz Artist" as well as the #2 "Top Contemporary Jazz Artist." Send One Your Love has been on the "Top Contemporary Jazz Album" chart for 44 weeks since its February 3, 2009 release and was ranked #2 for that chart overall for 2009. He was also the #3 Contemporary Jazz Artist of the Decade (behind Norah Jones and Kenny G.) and the #8 Best-Selling Jazz Artist of the Decade.

Boney James was influenced by Motown music, as well as the work of contemporary jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. Later James honed his R&B chops while touring and doing session work with such stars as Morris Day, the Isley Brothers, Randy Crawford, Ray Parker, Jr. and Bobby Caldwell. James made his debut as a solo artist with Trust in 1992, virtually creating the genre of "urban jazz. " For his new CD Send One Your Love, Boney says that his concept was "to take the sexy quality of the sax and combine it with classic soul love songs plus some of my new compositions to make the ultimate 'makeout CD'. I wanted this to be an album, not just a collection of songs, to tell a romantic story from the beginning to the end." No doubt his legions of fans will agree he's succeeded.

 

 

 

The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman

The Rippingtons were founded in 1986 by Grammy-nominated guitarist Russ Freeman. The band has enjoyed tremendous success from the beginning with their groundbreaking album, "Moonlighting" which was voted by Jazziz magazine to be the #1 Most Influential Contemporary Jazz Album of all time. The band has had several number one Billboard charting albums, and also won several Oasis Awards, including awarded Group of the Year by the Oasis Awards, both in 2001 and 2002, as well as Achievement In Video, 1999.

Early personnel included David Benoit, Kenny G, Brandon Fields, and Gregg Karukas. Special guest stars have included Arturo Sandoval, Abita, Willy Chirino, David Grusin, Joe Sample, Dave Koz, Bob James, Ozomatli, Kirk Whalum, Chante Moore, and the list goes on.

This respected group has gained a worldwide fan base. Their latest CD, "20th Anniversary", has reached #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart.

 

 

Alex Bugnon grew up in Montreux, Switzerland- home of the Montreux Jazz Festival-where he started playing the classical piano at the age of 6. Guided by his father, a jazz guitarist and classical opera singer, Bugnon acquired a love for a wide range of music from Scott Joplin, Thelonious Monk, and Bill Evans to Herbie Hancock.

As a student at the Berkelee School of Music, he performed with local bands at clubs in and around the Boston area and in churches with many gospel groups. After moving to New York he spent four years working as a session musician and touring with urban and jazz luminaries such as Patti Austin, Freddie Jackson, James Ingram, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Keith Sweat.

With that experience to back him, Alex Bugnon has created one of the most recognized styles in todays contemporary jazz piano. It is a sultry mixture of contemporary jazz, funk, and R&B with hints of gospel. Even the titles of his CDs create anticipation for a musical experience that is delivered with passion. His latest album, "Free", reunites him with Atlanta based keyboardist and producer Phil Davis. After recording Free and his last album, "Southern Living" in Atlanta, Bugnon calls this city his second musical home.