Sweet Thing/It's All Good

Performer: Boney James
Artist: Al Jarreau; Eric Benet
Engineer: Paul Brown; Dan Shea; Dave Rideau; Erik Zobler
Producer: Paul Brown; Boney James
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel includes: Boney James (saxophone, keyboards); Tony Maiden (vocals, guitar); Al Jarreau, Maxayne Lewis, Dee Harvey, Eric Benet (vocals); Dan Higgins (tenor saxophone); Jerry Hey (flugelhorn); Bill Reichenbach (trombone); Dan Shea, David Torkanowsky, Jeff Carruthers, Darrell Smith, John Stoddart, Alex Al, Daddy Shakespeare (keyboards); Paul Jackson, Jr., Peter White (guitar); Larry Kempel, Alex Al (bass); Lil' John Roberts (drums); Lenny Castro, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Bridgette Bryant-Fiddmont (background vocals). Personnel: Boney James (vocals, saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards, synthesizer); Tony Maiden (vocals, guitar); Maxayn Lewis, Eric Benet, D. Harvey, Al Jarreau (vocals); Peter White (guitar, accordion); Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Dan Higgins (tenor saxophone); Jerry Hey (flugelhorn); Bill Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); Alex Al (keyboards, synthesizer, drum programming); Daddy Shakespeare (keyboards, Moog synthesizer); David Torkanowsky (keyboards, vibraphone); Darrell Smith, Jeff Carruthers (keyboards, drum programming); Dan Shea, Al. Alex, John Stoddart (keyboards); Lil John Roberts, Lil' John Roberts (drums); Lenny Castro, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Bridgette Bryant-Fiddmont (background vocals). Audio Mixer: David Rideau. Recording information: Alpha Studios; Entourage; Funky Joint; Sunset sound. Photographer: James Minchin. Arrangers: Dan Shea; Darrell Smith; Jeff Carruthers; Alex Al; Boney James. In 1998, Warner Bros. released Sweet Thing/It's All Good, which contained two complete albums -- Sweet Thing (1997, originally released on Warner Bros.) and It's All Good (also originally released on Warner Bros.) -- by smooth jazz saxer Boney James on one compact disc. ~ Tim Sendra Boney James is hereby nominated to replace Kenny G as the poster boy for smooth jazz. The multi-saxman is not only one of the genre's top sellers, but also most consistently captures the requisite balance of silky, urban-lite grooves, bright yet easygoing melodic horn licks, and -- most importantly as far as definition is concerned -- improvises effectively enough for "jazz" to be an appropriate term for what he does. Bluntly speaking, he's more diverse, more soulful and less grating and repetitive than the G man. James' fourth non-holiday disc, Sweet Thing, finds him and co-producer Paul Brown up to their old irresistible tricks, texturing subtle hints of Earth, Wind & Fire-flavored horns, David Torkanowsky's vibes, Peter White's accordion, even a Moog and Wurlitzer to capture a laid-back classic soul feeling. The title track, in fact, is a tasteful cover of a classic Rufus hit from the era, featuring the song's co-writer, Tony Maiden, on guitar. James' fluffy, happy jazz titles -- "Nothin' But Love," "It's All Good," "Innocence" -- seem, however, too superficial and simple to represent tunes that dig this deep emotionally and feature impressive solos which turn even the catchiest pop tune away from strict clich�. They reflect James' lighthearted approach, yet tell little of the spiritual points beyond the smile. Al Jarreau's voice adds a touch of class and sensuality to "I Still Dream." ~ Jonathan Widran Saxophonist Boney James plays pure, mostly instrumental "slow jams"; basically "Quiet Storm"-style smooth jazz/R&B. "East Bay" is a case in point--a mellifluous alto saxophone lilts along above a slow, funky groove. The mood is mellow in the extreme--this album would be a good choice for setting a romantic mood. "Within Attraction" is another relaxing tune, opening with a spare, drums-only introduction, then evolving into an exploration of a simple, compelling melodic theme. Vocalist Al Jarraeu is highlighted on "I Still Dream." On "After the Rain," another "soft jazz" number, two saxophones play off of each other in a pleasing give-and-take. If you like your mood music low-key, this is recommended. In 1998, Warner Bros. released Sweet Thing/It's All Good, which contained two complete albums -- Sweet Thing (1997, originally released on Warner Bros.) and It's All Good (also originally released on Warner Bros.) -- by smooth jazz saxer Boney James on one compact disc. ~ Tim Sendra

Saxophonist Boney James spent the requisite decade or so touring with jazz fusion and R&B acts as a side player, but stepped into the spotlight in 1992 with a debut album that showcased his supple skills on tenor, alto, and soprano sax, on both melodic originals and imaginative covers. His trademark blend of sexy R&B and heady jazz appealed to a wide range of listeners, and he has since released albums on a regular schedule, scoring hits on the jazz, R&B, and dance charts.

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