Boney James - Body Language (1999)

As learned from the broad-based popularity of his previous albums, people turn to saxophonist Boney James to do one thing: create sultry audio backdrops well suited for mingling, small talk, and romantic notions. James, rotating between tenor, soprano, and alto saxophones, faithfully delivers more of those goods on this, his sixth album. The mood sustained throughout all nine tracks (42-plus minutes runtime) is urbane, low-key, and cue-ball smooth. Chelle Davis provides breathy background vocals on the slow-grooving opening track, "Are You Ready?" and R&B crooners Shai take a more foreground role on the sweetly disarming "I'll Always Love You." Perhaps the album's most attractive cut is the slow urban crawl of "Boneyizm," with subdued interplay between James's tenor sax and Rick Braun's flugelhorn. Nothing shrill, outrageous, new, or significant awaits here, simply an engaging and pleasant listen. -- Terry Wood ~