Boney James at The Dakota (November 23, 2025)

Boney James Setlist

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Into the Blue
Slide
Slow Burn
After the Rain
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Mr. Magic
Batucada (Sergio Mendes cover)
All I Want Is You
Butter
Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers cover)
Sweet Thing

Nicollet Mall was aglow with the holiday spirit with trees draped in lights, making for a festive walk to The Dakota.

I’ve been to The Dakota many times, but this was the first time I saw it at capacity, meaning the private rooms on both levels removed their temporary walls to add more seating for a musical artist that has been on the forefront of the smooth jazz scene for over thirty years.

If you don’t know Boney James, here are some smooth stats:

Four million sold records
Four Certified Gold Records
21 #1 singles on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart

His latest #1 single is from his latest album, Slow Burn, his 19th studio album. He joked with the audience that he was as surprised as anyone about his longevity, saying that he didn’t think anyone would have bought his first album, Trust, except for his mother, adding, “I don’t think she even bought it.”

James then talked about his connection with the Twin Cities, saying his first gig was playing keyboards for Morris Day in 1985, giving a special shoutout to The Time’s drummer, Jellybean Johnson, who just passed away at age 69. Then he played the Minneapolis flavored “Slide” the song from his latest album that earned him his 21st #1 single on the Billboard Smooth Jazz chart.

Boney James may have started out playing the keyboard with Morris Day, but he has made his living playing his tenor and soprano saxophones. And throughout the evening he moved about the stage to the edges to make sure that those who were far in the back had a chance to see him as he played the title to his new album as well as “After the Rain.” And since it was almost Thanksgiving, he threw in a Christmas song, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

James was joined on stage by Omari Williams on drums, Big Mike Hart on guitar, Smitty Smith on bass and Vance Butler on keys. He gave them a chance to step to the front with Smith rumbling through “Butterfly” and Williams providing a three minute Afro Latin tinged drum solo to Sergio Mendes’ cover “Batucada.” And after a couple of sexy songs like “All I Want Is You” and his most streamed song “Butter” James played “Ain’t No Sunshine” in which Big Mike Hart may have delivered the best guitar solo I heard all year.

Most solos usually rely on technical proficiency, but with Big Mike it was all about the feel, maybe because he was playing in a smooth jazz medium, or maybe because he was channeling Bill Withers.

Eventually, James stepped in and they did a call and response, and it was a thing of beauty to see them going back and forth not as a “cutting contest” but a low-key conversation of two musicians appreciating a creative moment they both were creating.

FUN FACT: Like another jazz saxophonist Boney James was given his nickname by other musicians. But where Julian Adderley was nicknamed “Cannibal” for his healthy appetite, James Oppenheim received his nickname for his gaunt appearance as a touring musician trying to survive on $30.00 a day. Adderley eventually changed his nickname to the more friendly “Cannonball” but James kept his nickname intact.