Boney James Setlist

Contact
Into the Blue
Slide
Slow Burn
After the Rain
Butterfly (Herbie Hancock cover)
The Bounce
Winelight (Grover Washington cover)
Batucada surgiu (Marcos Valle cover)
All I Want Is You
Butter
Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers cover)
Sweet Thing (Rufus & Chaka Khan cover)
— Encore —
Grazin’ in The Grass

Explore More

■ Boney James
Boney James is an American saxophonist, recording artist, songwriter and record producer. He is a four-time Grammy Award nominee (Best Pop Instrumental Album, 2001, 2004, 2014 and Best Traditional R&B Performance, 2009) and a Soul Train Award winner (Best Jazz Album 1998).

What a triumphant return to Jacksonville, as Boney James takes the stage to a very loud and thunderous applause. James is currently on tour in support of his 19th studio album Slow Burn (Concord Records).

His fanbase here is unbelievable strong (spanning generations), but that shouldn’t surprise anyone who understands that Boney James has sold over four million albums and named top three Billboard Contemporary Jazz Artists of the Decade. Yes, Boney James is up there with Norah Jones and Sade.

With a harness and his saxophone securely on his body, you know Boney James means business. Few words were said, instead James let his saxophone do all the talking on the two powerful intro songs “Contact” and “Into the Blue”.

Joining James on stage was his current touring band: Omari Williams on drums, Big Mike Hart on guitar, Smitty Smith on bass and Vance Butler on keys. Like previous live shows we’ve seen, everybody had a moment to shine. Example, Smith and Butler had very long extended bass and key solo on “Butterfly.” Williams got a three-minute drum solo on “Batucada,” and Big Mike Hart got his moment on “Ain’t No Sunshine.”

You can just tell this group have been together for a long time and automatically adjust and adapt to any musical challenges they might face. Everyone knew their place and their contribution to the songs.

Boney James at The Dakota (November 22, 2025)

Dave wrote this fun fact about Boney James:

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.

Remaining Tour Dates

May 1, 2026 Daytona Beach, FL Daytona Jazz Weekend
May 23, 2026 Mableton, GA Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre
May 30, 2026 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
Jun. 10, 2026 Detroit, MI The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre
Jun. 12, 2026 Las Vegas, NV Reynolds Hall
Jun. 13, 2026 San Diego, CA San Diego SJ Festival
Jun. 20, 2026 Stockton, CA Weber Point Events Center
Jun. 27, 2026 Memphis, TN Cannon Center For the Performing Arts
Jun. 28, 2026 Nashville, TN City Winery Nashville
Jun. 28, 2026 Nashville, TN City Winery Nashville
Jul. 11, 2026 Hammond, IN The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond
Jul. 18, 2026 Oxon Hill, MD MGM National Harbor Casino
Jul. 19, 2026 Camden, NJ Wiggins Waterfront Park
Aug. 1, 2026 Park City, UT Canyons Village at Park City
Aug. 7, 2026 Louisville, KY Iroquois Amphitheater withMarcus Miller, Avery*Sunshine
Aug. 8, 2026 Cincinnati, OH The Ludlow Garage
Aug. 9, 2026 Cleveland Heights, OH Cain Park – Evans Amphitheater
Aug. 30, 2026 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
Sep. 18, 2026 Pensacola, FL Gulf Coast Summer Fest 2026
Oct. 16, 2026 Rehoboth Beach, DE Rehoboth Beach Convention Center
Oct. 24, 2026 Napa, CA Blue Note Napa Summer Sessions
Oct. 30, 2026 Lansdowne, PA Lansdowne Theater
Nov. 3, 2026 Pittsburgh, PA City Winery Pittsburgh
Nov. 3, 2026 Pittsburgh, PA City Winery Pittsburgh
Nov. 4, 2026 Pittsburgh, PA City Winery Pittsburgh
Nov. 4, 2026 Pittsburgh, PA City Winery Pittsburgh
Nov. 12, 2026 Hampton, VA Hampton Roads Convention Center