Baltimore, MD--

Two-PM: Hello Mr. Boney James.

BJ: Hey how are you doing?

PM: Just fine.  It’s really nice to sit down with you again and do another interview.  Pointed Magazine readers always love to hear from you.

BJ: Well thanks so much.

PM: You are with a new label now. Concord Records. Tells us a little bit about that.

BJ: It feels really good too.  Concord stepped up, you know they really have, I had my biggest sales week ever my first week out.  I sold more records in one week than ever before in my whole career with the new label so that’s a real good affirmation in the choice we made.

PM: Was this because of the situation going on with jazz at Warner Bros?

BJ: Well no.  I could have made another record for Warner Bros. but I didn’t feel safe. With the “Pure” CD, I thought it was such a great record and I felt they let it die a little bit so I didn’t want to put all that time and heart into making a record like I do and then not have the label really promote it, so I made that move and it’s looking to be the right thing.

PM: That is just great. By the way how is your wife Lily doing?

BJ: She’s doing really well thank you.

PM: It’s really great that’s she is so supportive of you. I noticed that you always have the signature remarks on every CD with your special thanks to Lily.

BJ: Well the other thing is that on this one she co-wrote the titled track. She did some of the lyrics on “Shine” so it’s the first time we ever wrote a song together.

PM: That’s interesting.  Is their more co-writing to come?

BJ: Well maybe. We’re talking about it. You know I’m not in the writing mode yet because the records so new.

PM: The “Shine” CD has a little difference kind of groove going on.  You had various artists’ vocals on this one such as Phillip Bailey, and Dwele.  I really loved your rendition of “In The Rain”. This song has been out for years.

BJ: Yes, that song first came out in 1971 by the “Dramatics” and I just always loved it and thought I could do it with the saxophone and then I said all right I need to have somebody singing that chorus. So I called “Dwele” and this was the third time we worked together and I love him, I think he killed it.

PM: Yes and your rendition of this ballad was really sexy. I loved the flow of it.  I have heard different remakes of this song but I give you the sexy thumbs up on this one. I really enjoyed it.

BJ: Kool

PM: Now what about Phillip Bailey singing on this CD
BJ: Oh yes, Phillip Bailey from Earth Wind and Fire.  I mean I’m such a huge Earth Wind and Fire fan going all the way back and that’s when I first got started into music. “Gratitude” was just out; their live record and I loved it so much I listened to it everyday. So for me to have him on my record is such a huge honor and I love what he’s saying and it’s such a beautiful song. I could not be happier about that.

PM: Do you feel because of the move from Warner Bros to Concord Records that you felt you had to come out a little bit stronger and with a different vibe?

BJ: Well you know, I mean I think every time I go into the Studio to make a new record I’m really trying to give it my best shot.  But probably just the positively I was getting from the label and just feeling good about getting a fresh start, that might have been reflected just in my mood, because the record sounds kind of happy to me you know. It’s kind of an up kind of thing, you know it’s relaxed and it still has that intensity and everything but there something good about it that might be reflective of positive changes.

PM:  I think it’s reflective in your move to Concord Records. It’s seems like it’s all positive for you, as you came out with a blast like “Shine” so something was going on in your aura that said this is a really kool move.

BJ: Yes, it’s bright

PM: Yes it’s really bright, and it happening and you should continue walking through that light and make things happened. Another track on the “Shine” CD, “The Way She Walks” who are you talking about?

BJ: This song was by Christian Scott.  He is another Concord Artist and somebody just slipped me a copy of his record and I said man this guy can play, so when I came to cut that song I thought, oh I might need a trumpet on here let me try him out. He is originally from New Orleans, he works in New York now, his record is much more arvant gard than this but I thought he would be able to pulled this kind of groove and I think it sounds amazing.

PM: It was really interesting to hear your new CD “Shine” it is a little different. There is something about this CD, I cannot quite put my finger on it, but the sound is a little different. I can say I do like the new flavor.

BJ: Thanks, and I think a lot of the music on this record is a little more sophisticated than what I might have done in the past. I don’t know it just came out that way.

PM: So it’s not liked you set your mind to make a more sophisticated record?

BJ: No, I never really set my mind to do anything on purpose.  For me when I make a record I don’t really know what it’s going to be. It’s like I’m putting this puzzle together but I’m making it up as I go along and that’s the fun part of it for me because I really don’t know what’s it’s going to be until it’s done.

PM: Well this CD “Shine” came out fabulous.

BJ: Thank you. I really appreciate that.

PM: I also see that it’s being received really well, it’s getting a lot of airplay here in Baltimore, and that’s a good sign.  So I would say the pizza man is still going strong.

BJ: (Laughter) yeah I’m working on it. Trying to keep it going. But yeah the record, I just love it so much. I mean to have people like George Benson on there, and Faith Evans, you know big stars. You know I’m just amazed they even know who I am.

PM: Yes you do have some heavy hitters on this CD.  So do you plan to have more collaborations with other artist on your future CD’s.

BJ: Well like I said I never know until I get there on how it’s going to go.  You know I did not set out saying I’m going to get so and so or I’m going to get ten guest artist on this new record.  Each song your working on you realize maybe you need something, what does it need and you get these ideas, so I really don’t know what the next record is going to need until I get there.

PM: So you hear what you need in a song inside your head?

BJ: Yes I hear it in my head and if it sounds like Phillip Bailey I know what I need.  That’s the challenge of making a record.  All that exploration in trying to be opens to ideas you don’t know when you’re going to get them.  So you sit back and say this song may be good with Phillip Bailey, hmmm, you know that’s an interesting idea and then try to actually make it happen. That’s the other part of the idea.

PM: So it’s not like you go to your studio in the back yard and you start to say I want to write a song with Phillip Bailey.

BJ: No (laughter) that particular song, that song started in New Haven Connecticut at a sound check and the keyboard player was playing some chords. So I said I like those chords maybe we should try to write a song around that.  So when he got home he sent me a MP3 of just those chords, just the plain piano, chord, chord, chord, like that and than I sat down and I heard a song and I just made that whole song around it and than I was like maybe that sounds like a vocal. So than, I decided to write some lyrics.  I mean it takes months and months and months and than once you have the demo you think now who is going to sing it.  So that’s how that came out.

PM: Well you sure picked the right vocals on this one.  We are glad your still here and we wish you much success with your new label. We are glad that you are happy and it seems to be a nice fit.

BJ: I am so proud of the music.  You know for me regardless of how the record does, if I can feel like I accomplished what I set out to do, I made a record that I can be proud of. Although when they are sell outs that’s a great feeling.

PM: That’s wonderful.  I really appreciate you taking the time out to speak with Pointed Magazine.

BJ: It was great speaking with you too.