Four-Time GRAMMY Nominee + Multi-Platinum Saxophone Icon Boney James Announces Milestone 20th Studio Album

A Simple Man Out October 2 Via Concord Records

Shares New Single + Video “I Belong To You” Feat. Ledisi

Enters His Most Personal Chapter Yet on Soulful New Collection ft Ledisi, Marquis Hill + Larry Carlton

Tour Dates Include the Hollywood Bowl, Sony Hall + Stops in Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Houston, more

August 7, 2026 // Twenty albums into a career built on deep groove and a saxophone voice all his own, Boney James is still finding new ground. Today, the four-time GRAMMY nominee and multi-platinum saxophonist, composer and producer announces new album A Simple Man, arriving October 2 via Concord Records, alongside the new single and official music video “I Belong To You” featuring Ledisi. Vinyl editions of the album will be available November 6.

A warm, contemporary R&B duet, “I Belong To You” reunites James and Ledisi more than two decades after they first appeared together on the Luther Vandross tribute album Forever, For Always, For Luther. Co-written by James and Ledisi with BeatsMadeByFresh and Rex Rideout, the song pairs her commanding vocal with the expressive tenor playing that has made James one of instrumental music’s most recognizable voices. Its intimate video keeps the focus on that exchange, moving between the two artists against a dark, minimalist backdrop.

Produced by James, A Simple Man is a soulful collection shaped by his growing desire for clarity. The title began with a song, then became a reflection of how he now approaches both his work and his life: removing distraction so that the essential elements can come through more clearly. “I don’t need a lot of things to make me happy,” says James. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve wanted to drop the extraneous things. The simple life is something I crave, and that spirit found its way into this album. A Simple Man is about getting closer to what feels essential, both in the music and in my life.”

That focus does not make the record restrained. Instead, it gives James room to move freely across the musical language he has spent decades developing, with R&B feeling at its center and jazz tradition always within reach. The album opens with “Dreams,” featuring a rare flute performance from James. “Morocco” brings him together with acclaimed trumpeter Marquis Hill for a layered meeting of live instrumentation and electronic texture. “The Midnight Sun” grew from a spontaneous soundcheck jam that James captured on his phone before rebuilding it in the studio.

Elsewhere, “The Wire” draws from the mood of 1970s soul soundtracks. Legendary guitarist Larry Carlton joins James on the Steely Dan-influenced “Storybook,” while Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood” is reimagined over a supple, D’Angelo-inspired groove. The hopeful “Things Are Looking Up” and the nature-minded closing track “Birdsong” give the album a sense of forward motion.

James’ path to this point began on the road. After turning professional at 19, he spent years as a sideman, first touring with Morris Day before working with The Isley Brothers, Teena Marie, Randy Crawford, Ray Parker Jr., Sheena Easton and Bobby Caldwell. Between gigs, he made demos and developed a musical identity of his own, eventually stepping forward with his 1992 debut, Trust. The decades since have brought constant touring and an expansive run of collaborations, with James recording alongside artists including George Benson, Al Jarreau, George Duke, Faith Evans, Bilal, Lalah Hathaway, Raheem DeVaughn and October London. Those relationships reflect the breadth of his sound, as well as the deep foundation in R&B that has shaped his approach from the beginning.

That long road has produced a level of longevity few artists reach. James’ catalog now spans 20 studio albums and has generated more than two billion on-demand streams in the United States, along with four million U.S. album equivalents. His honors include four GRAMMY nominations, three NAACP Image Award nominations, four RIAA Gold-certified records and a Soul Train Award. In 2024, he became the first artist to score 20 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Smooth Jazz chart. Recent vocal collaborations have also extended his reach at Adult R&B radio, where he has earned two Top 10 hits.

James is currently performing across the country. Upcoming appearances include the Hollywood Bowl and Sony Hall, followed by dates at The Fillmore New Orleans, House of Blues Houston and Yoshi’s. Full routing is below.

PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE A SIMPLE MAN HERE

A SIMPLE MAN TRACKLIST

Dreams

Morocco feat. Marquis Hill

The Midnight Sun

I Belong To You feat. Ledisi

Things Are Looking Up

The Wire

Storybook feat. Larry Carlton

In A Sentimental Mood

A Simple Man

Birdsong

2026 TOUR DATES

8/7 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Jazz Festival

8/8 – Cincinnati, OH – Ludlow Garage

8/9 – Cleveland Heights, OH – Cain Park, Evans Amphitheater

8/30 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl

9/11–9/18 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – The Smooth Jazz Cruise

9/20 – Pensacola, FL – Pensacola Community Maritime Park

10/4 – Temecula, CA – Thornton Winery

10/16 – Rehoboth Beach, DE – Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival

10/17 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head On Stage

10/18 – Red Bank, NJ – Vogel Theatre at the Count Basie Center

10/23 – Newport Beach, CA – Hyatt Regency Resort

10/24 – Napa, CA – Blue Note Napa Summer Sessions at Meritage Resort

10/25 – Lancaster, CA – Lancaster Performing Arts Center

10/29 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere

10/30 – Lansdowne, PA – Lansdowne Theater

10/31 – Boston, MA – City Winery Boston

11/1 – New York, NY – Sony Hall

11/3 – Pittsburgh, PA – City Winery Pittsburgh

11/4 – Pittsburgh, PA – City Winery Pittsburgh

11/6 – Carmel, IN – The Palladium

11/7 – Fort Wayne, IN – The Clyde Theatre

11/8 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory

11/12 – Hampton, VA – Hampton Roads Convention Center

11/14 – Charlotte, NC – Knight Theater

11/19 – Columbus, OH – Southern Theatre

11/20 – Detroit, MI – Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel

11/21 – Chicago, IL – City Winery Chicago

11/22 – Chicago, IL – City Winery Chicago

11/24 – Minneapolis, MN – Dakota

12/4 – New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore New Orleans

12/6 – Houston, TX – House of Blues

12/11 – Seattle, WA – Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley

12/12 – Seattle, WA – Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley

12/13 – Seattle, WA – Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley

12/29 – Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s

12/30 – Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s

12/31 – Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s

BONEY JAMES ONLINE

Official Website: https://boneyjames.com/ 

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealBoneyJames 

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