Boney James (born James Oppenheim, September 1, 1961, in Lowell, Massachusetts) is a contemporary jazz saxophonist who has consistently placed at the top of the Contemporary Jazz Charts since his leader debut with 1992's Trust. His sound is known for being grittier and more muscular than the genre usually embodies. James, born James Oppenheim, grew up in New Rochelle, New York, and studied clarinet at eight, later switching to saxophone. At age 15, his family moved to Los Angeles, where he began playing in a fusion band called Line One that was strong enough to open for Flora Purim and the Yellowjackets.