It was while driving home after a gig at the Newport, Calif. Jazz Festival last month when James’ car was rear-ended by an automobile traveling at approximately 70 mph while on a L.A. freeway.

Although surviving the accident is a pretty remarkable story, maybe more astounding is the fact after his 1 a.m. discharge from a local hospital, the sax-man went straight to his dentist for a temporary repair on two front teeth. Let’s see you get an emergency dental appointment just after midnight on a Sunday morning.

James returns to the road July 3 with an appearance in Healdsburg, Calif., at the Rodney Strong Vineyards. Other stops include St. Charles, Mo, at Ameristar Casino; Winter Park Colo, at the town’s jazz festival July 25; San Diego at Humphrey’s July 31 and the Long Beach Jazz Festival Aug. 13.

James will also be hitting a few states east of the Mississippi, including Delaware, Ohio and South Carolina.

“I’m really excited to get back to playing shows,” James said. “I broke my two front teeth in the accident and couldn’t blow for six weeks. I still have a brace on them and might still lose the teeth, but I’m able to play and need to get back on stage. I do feel very lucky to be alive, and being able to play my horn again is the best thing in the world.”

For more information on Boney James, just click here for his website and here for his MySpace page.