Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Title aside, there is something very familiar about Futuresoul, Boney James' follow-up to 2013's Grammy-winning Beat. With a modern production approach, there is a deliberate look back at his great inspiration, Grover Washington, Jr., in particular, the late saxophonist's groundbreaking period between 1975 and 1983. Washington, then recording for Kudu, was deeply influenced by vintage soul music and equally taken with funk. He melded them seamlessly with warm, melodic jazz in a welcoming tone and songlike phrasing that virtually created the "smooth jazz" genre. Those tropes influenced and benefited James greatly; he's continued to evolve and transform the music since his 1992 debut album, Trust. His tone here is pure retro analog, while the rest of Futuresoul's sounds derive from the current production techniques of R&B and pop. He collaborated with several co-producers, including Jarius Mozee on the slinky club floor opener "Drumline," and with Dwele on the fingerpopping summertime groove in the title track. Stokley (Williams) makes a vocal appearance on the lovely crossover tune "Either Way." While the scratchy sample at the intro to "Vinyl" is perhaps too obvious, the melody is low, sexy, and slow, with elegantly layered and harmonically staggered saxophones. Rob Bacon's chunky guitar and Nutty P Beats' loops and spacy synths are tastefully stitched into the backdrop. The ballad "Hand in Hand," with Darrell Smith's programmed loops and low-end keyboard bass, is lithe and romantic, though the earthy, Southern gospel tinge of Tim Carmon's B-3 adds roots and depth. Closer "Far from Home" features the muted trumpet of Marquis Hill as a lyric foil for James. Carmon's acoustic piano fills, Vinnie Colaiuta's impressionistic drums, and Lenny Castro's illustrative percussion add a restrained yet cinematic feel to the track. While Futuresoul may not have the outward propulsive force of Beat, it is its flipside: a more lyrical outing that tastefully and thoughtfully melds grooves from the history of smooth and contemporary jazz to modern adult R&B.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Craig Brockman, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - BONEY JAMES, Producer, Keyboards, Tenor Saxophone, Drum Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jairus Mozee, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jairus Mozzee, ComposerLyricist - Keenan Ephriam, Drums, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2015 Concord Jazz, Distributed by Concord.
Gerald McCauley, Synthesizer, Digital Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Bell, ComposerLyricist - LINDA CREED, ComposerLyricist - BONEY JAMES, Producer, Keyboards, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Rob Bacon, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Eric Murray, ComposerLyricist - Nutty P Beats, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Omari Williams, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Concord Jazz, Distributed by Concord.
Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Stephens, ComposerLyricist - Alex Al, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - BONEY JAMES, Producer, Keyboards, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Omari Williams, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Concord Jazz, Distributed by Concord.
Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Alex Al, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - BONEY JAMES, Producer, Keyboards, Alto Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jairus Mozee, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nikeita Crichlow, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2015 Concord Jazz, Distributed by Concord.
Stokley, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - BONEY JAMES, Producer, Keyboards, Tenor Saxophone, Drum Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stokley Williams, ComposerLyricist - Omari Williams, Tom-Toms, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Concord Jazz, Distributed by Concord.
Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - BONEY JAMES, Producer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - DARRELL SMITH, Keyboards, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2015 Concord Jazz, Distributed by Concord.
Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - BONEY JAMES, Producer, Keyboards, Soprano Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Omari Williams, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Concord Jazz, Distributed by Concord.
Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - BONEY JAMES, Producer, Keyboards, Alto Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dwayne "Smitty" Smith, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - PHIL DAVIS, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Omari Williams, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Concord Jazz, Distributed by Concord.
Dwele, Keyboards, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - BONEY JAMES, Producer, Keyboards, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andwele Gardner, ComposerLyricist - Omari Williams, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Concord Jazz, Distributed by Concord.
Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Alex Al, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - BONEY JAMES, Producer, Keyboards, Piano, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Marquis Hill, Trumpet, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Concord Jazz, Distributed by Concord.
Album review
Title aside, there is something very familiar about Futuresoul, Boney James' follow-up to 2013's Grammy-winning Beat. With a modern production approach, there is a deliberate look back at his great inspiration, Grover Washington, Jr., in particular, the late saxophonist's groundbreaking period between 1975 and 1983. Washington, then recording for Kudu, was deeply influenced by vintage soul music and equally taken with funk. He melded them seamlessly with warm, melodic jazz in a welcoming tone and songlike phrasing that virtually created the "smooth jazz" genre. Those tropes influenced and benefited James greatly; he's continued to evolve and transform the music since his 1992 debut album, Trust. His tone here is pure retro analog, while the rest of Futuresoul's sounds derive from the current production techniques of R&B and pop. He collaborated with several co-producers, including Jarius Mozee on the slinky club floor opener "Drumline," and with Dwele on the fingerpopping summertime groove in the title track. Stokley (Williams) makes a vocal appearance on the lovely crossover tune "Either Way." While the scratchy sample at the intro to "Vinyl" is perhaps too obvious, the melody is low, sexy, and slow, with elegantly layered and harmonically staggered saxophones. Rob Bacon's chunky guitar and Nutty P Beats' loops and spacy synths are tastefully stitched into the backdrop. The ballad "Hand in Hand," with Darrell Smith's programmed loops and low-end keyboard bass, is lithe and romantic, though the earthy, Southern gospel tinge of Tim Carmon's B-3 adds roots and depth. Closer "Far from Home" features the muted trumpet of Marquis Hill as a lyric foil for James. Carmon's acoustic piano fills, Vinnie Colaiuta's impressionistic drums, and Lenny Castro's illustrative percussion add a restrained yet cinematic feel to the track. While Futuresoul may not have the outward propulsive force of Beat, it is its flipside: a more lyrical outing that tastefully and thoughtfully melds grooves from the history of smooth and contemporary jazz to modern adult R&B.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:41:27
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Boney James
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Concord Records
- Genre: Jazz
© 2015 Concord Music Group, Inc. ℗ 2015 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.