Shake It Up

Released in 2000, Shake It Up represents a high-water mark for contemporary jazz collaboration, pairing saxophonist Boney James with trumpeter Rick Braun. Produced largely by James and Paul Brown, the album is a polished fusion of smooth jazz and R&B sensibilities. It is notable for its blend of original compositions and high-profile covers, including a soulful rendition of Horace Silver's 'Song for My Father' and Hugh Masekela's 'Grazin' in the Grass'. The latter became a significant hit on smooth jazz radio, further cemented by a vocal version featuring Roy Ayers. The recording features top-tier engineering from Bill Schnee and Al Schmitt, resulting in a lush, hi-fi soundstage that defined the genre's aesthetic at the start of the decade. Critically and commercially, it solidified both artists as leaders of the 'Quiet Storm' and contemporary jazz formats, peaking at the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.