Trust
Boney James · 1992
43 min · 9 tracks · jazz
Smooth saxophone melodies intertwine with rich harmonic textures, creating a lush landscape for contemporary jazz exploration.
Top tracks — play these first
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It's A Beautiful Thing Start here — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its warm saxophone lines and uplifting chord progressions, embodying the essence of smooth jazz.
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Trust — The title track showcases Boney's lyrical saxophone style, featuring intricate phrasing that encapsulates themes of connection and vulnerability.
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Roadrunner — With its upbeat tempo and playful melody, this track highlights James' ability to blend technical skill with infectious groove, making it a standout piece.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album offers smooth melodies and cohesive arrangements but lacks standout innovation in the jazz genre.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of smooth saxophone melodies layered over soft, rhythmic backing tracks throughout its nine songs.
- Each track maintains a relaxed tempo, with several pieces incorporating subtle shifts in dynamics to create a soothing atmosphere.
- The instrumentation often includes lush keyboard pads and gentle percussion, which contribute to the overall mellow vibe of the record.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- smooth grooves for relaxation
- melodic flows for easy listening
- gentle rhythms for background ambiance
- warm tones for intimate moments
Maybe skip if you
- prefer high-energy tracks
- want complex, avant-garde sounds
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album marked Boney James' rise to prominence in the smooth jazz genre.
- Themes
- smooth saxophone melodies· contemporary jazz exploration
- Career context
- Released in January 1992, Trust was Boney James' debut album, marking his entry into the smooth jazz scene. At this point, he was transitioning from being a supporting musician to a solo artist, after working with notable figures such as Barry White and Morris Day.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Kirk Whalum· David Sanborn· Gerald Albright
Tracklist
- 1 It's A Beautiful Thing Start here 5:07
- 2 Roadrunner 4:15
- 3 Lily 5:38
- 4 Kyoto 5:17
- 5 Another Place, Another Time 5:15
- 6 Creepin' 3:40
- 7 Personal Touch 4:35
- 8 Trust 4:44
- 9 Metropolis 4:37
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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