Boney James Brings His Slow Burn Tour to the Marcus Performing Arts Center Thursday, November 13

MILWAUKEE (July 29, 2025) – Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) announces today that four-time GRAMMY® nominee and chart-topping saxophonist Boney James will bring his Slow Burn Tour to Uihlein Hall on Thursday November 13, 2025. Don’t miss this unforgettable night with one of jazz’s most iconic and soulful performers as part of the 2025/26 MPAC Presents Series.

Single tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, August 1 at 12:00 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit www.MarcusCenter.org, call 414-273-7206, or visit the MPAC Box Office at 929 North Water Street, Downtown Milwaukee. Groups of 10 or more receive special pricing and can secure their seats by calling 414-273-7207.

Slow Burn is a new high point in a remarkable career that now spans more than three decades and includes a long list of accolades – four GRAMMY nominations, three NAACP Image Award nominations, a Soul Train Award for Best Jazz Album and four RIAA Gold Record certifications. In 2009, Billboard named James one of the Top 3 Contemporary Jazz Artists of the decade. In 2024, James became the first-ever artist to score 20 number one singles on the Billboard Smooth Jazz chart.

Slow Burn follows two of the most successful albums of James’ career, 2020’s Solid and 2022’s Detour which debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard Pop Albums Chart.

James is, of course, thrilled that his music continues to reach new audiences more than thirty years after he released his debut album, Trust, in 1992. “It’s always been my goal to be one of those guys that would just keep doing it at a high level,” he says, “and to have that connection with the audience.”

That’s what it’s always been about for Boney James. Growing up in New Rochelle, New York, James played clarinet in his school band, but two years later, he says, “The teacher needed a sax player. As soon as I switched, playing it became my favorite thing to do.”

By the time he entered his teens, James was already gigging with bands, and he turned pro at 19. After years of paying his dues with artists like The Isley Brothers, Teena Marie and many more, Boney cut his first album on an independent label, which led immediately to a major label deal and a string of increasingly successful recordings and nonstop touring. Now residing in Los Angeles with his wife, director Lily Mariye, James says, “I wake up each day and try to play a little better. To quote the cellist Pablo Casals ‘I think I’m making progress.’ I am really proud of my playing on this new record. And I absolutely love the songs and the sound I achieved.”

Stream Slow Burn HERE.

Connect with Boney James
Website · Facebook · Instagram · X · YouTube · Spotify

About MPAC Presents Programming
This show continues to expand on MPAC’s diverse selection of programming as part of the 2025/26 MPAC Presents Season, which includes previously announced 3-show series of Dance and Jazz.

Build Your Own (BYO) Series packages for all MPAC Presents shows are on sale now. Subscribe your way by choosing any three or more MPAC Presents shows and save up to 15%! Donors receive priority presale access for all single tickets. To learn more about becoming a donor, visit www.MarcusCenter.org/GIVE.

The Culture Collective, an exciting addition to MPAC’s performance lineup designed to celebrate and elevate the contributions of artists from diverse backgrounds and artistic disciplines, will be announced at a later date.

In addition to MPAC’s performing arts programming, numerous educational and community engagement activities will be part of the upcoming 2025/26 season. MPAC will offer a range of activities alongside performances, including masterclasses, workshops, Q&A sessions, post-show talkbacks, and more in partnership with local schools and community organizations, ensuring that the transformative power of the arts reaches individuals of all ages and backgrounds. The 2025/26 Student Matinee Series will also be announced at a later date.

Additional shows will be announced throughout the season. Artists and dates are subject to change. Details of the complete season can be found at www.MarcusCenter.org.

The MPAC Presents Series is generously supported by Bader Philanthropies, Inc., Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel, and the Herzfeld Foundation. The Marcus Performing Arts Center is supported in part by grants from the Wisconsin Arts Board and Milwaukee Arts Board, with funds from the State of Wisconsin, and the National Endowment for the Arts. To learn more about sponsoring the MPAC Presents Series, please contact give@marcuscenter.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.