There’s always been a significant relationship between R&B and jazz music. One of my favorite saxophonists, Boney James, has many collaborations with R&B singers such as Donell Jones, Mario, Dave Hollister, and Jaheim. For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday selection, I wanted to highlight Boney’s 2006 collaboration with Earth, Wind & Fire’s lead vocalist Philip Bailey.
The duo collaborated on the elegant ballad “Love Song” from Boney’s tenth studio album, Shine. When the album arrived in stores in September of 2006, I was on a deployment. Spending time in the sandbox, I had tons of time to digest music. I was already familiar with Boney’s work, but there was something special about “Love Song.”
James opens the song with his signature sax skills before the buttery smooth vocals of Bailey come through for a blissful four and half minutes.
“Any time that we’re together
I can’t keep my eyes off you
Did you know it’s you I treasure
Doin’ anything you want me, anything you ask me to
I never ever had a love so true
Someone as warm as you
All I know is that I love you
Give all my love to you, that’s all I wanna do
Gonna write a little love song, yeah
Gonna tell you how I feel
Gonna write a little love song
Show you how I care for you, I’ll keep on loving you.”
The lyrics in the song come across with emotion as Bailey croons his feelings. I think anyone who has ever been in love will relate to what Bailey is singing about. If you’ve never heard the track, I recommend checking it out.
Final Grade: A
“Love Song” from Shine is available on all streaming platforms.
As music fans mourn the loss of the iconic Angie Stone, we will continue paying tribute to the songstress. After getting her start in Hip-Hop with the group The Sequence, she transitioned into R&B with her second group, Vertical Hold. However, her 1999 debut, “Black Diamond,” and this week’s Second Listen Sunday pick allowed Stone to break through to the masses.
Music fans were shocked when we learned last week that the legendary Angie Stone had been called home to join the heavenly choir. I had planned to feature Ms. Stone on Slow Jam Saturday for a while and hoped to interview her. I went back and forth about which song to feature, but when I thought about the state of the world, the only choice was “Brotha.”
Heaven gained another angelic voice last weekend when the iconic Roberta Flack made her transition. I kept Ms. Flack’s music in regular rotation, particularly her cover of Stephen Bishop’s “It Might Be You.” However, for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to highlight another one of her covers, “Set the Night to Music.”