When James Foster first started playing the flutophone, his music instructor wasn’t impressed.

In fact, he went to Foster’s mother and told her he wasn’t sure her son had a future in music.

That is until Foster picked up a saxophone.

“When I got a hold of a saxophone, it was like second nature,” he said.

Now decades and a trio of Grammy nominations later, there is no doubt the Brandywine High School grad and performer/producer has a future in music — and the future is now.

Foster’s first solo album, “Night Games,” drops in January. The self-produced CD blends hip hop, R&B and contemporary jazz.

“It’s smooth jazz. It’s sultry, I’d say sexy,” Foster said in a phone interview from his Boston home. “I’ve had a lot of people say, ‘wow, I gotta take that one to my girlfriend or wife.'”

In addition to his soulful and polished saxophone solos, Foster also plays the flute and piano on the album.

Born and raised in Niles, Foster was drawn to music at a young age.

After picking up the saxophone, he fell in love with the instrument and practiced all the time.

“I got up early and practiced before school, during lunch and after school before basketball practice,” he said.

His first performance was before a crowd of 3,000 at the annual conference for the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Detroit — a denomination with which his father was involved.

“It was a very live crowd and I fed off of it,” he said. “After being on that stage, I knew it was what I really wanted to do.”

In high school, Foster played in several pop and rock bands and became a staple at many of the dances at Brandywine High School. Instructed by Brandywine band director Tom Wentworth, Foster qualified for district and state competitions as a soloist.

After a year at Ferris State University, Foster transferred to Berklee College of Music in Boston.

During his time at Berklee, Foster made connections with professional musicians, including Kevin Eubanks and other jazz performers from late night television shows.

He also has worked with the likes of Lou Rawls, Melissa Manchester, Dizzy Gillespie and Buddy Rich during and after his schooling.

“I got to work with some well-known people in the business,” Foster said. “I had teachers who had albums out and were performing on a daily basis. The one thing that made it interesting is that I knew my teachers were my competition when I got out of school.”

Since graduating, Foster, a Boston resident, has performed across the country and launched his own label, Hype Time Records, with his colleague Sam “The Wiz” Cobb. The label has received three Grammy nominations, the most recent coming for the album “New Generation.”

Foster has produced 15 CDs for several up-and-coming R&B, rap and jazz artists, and he performs at clubs, jazz festivals and television shows across the country.

While he hasn’t played in Niles since high school, Foster said he would love the opportunity to return to his hometown for a performance.

For more information about Foster and Hype Time Records, visit www.jamesfostermusic.com.