Jazz
Brian Culbertson - Arranger, Clapping, Clarinet, Clavinet, Engineer, Executive Producer, Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Mini Moog, Mixing, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Soloist, Trombone, Trumpet, Trumpet (Muted), Vocals
Bernie Worrell - Keyboards
Bill Meyers - Horn Arrangements
Bobby Ray Watson - Bass
Bootsy Collins - Engineer, Guest Appearance, Producer, Space Bass, Vocals
Chance Howard - Clapping, Clavinet, Guest Appearance, Synthesizer Bass, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Chris Miskel - Drums
Cora Dunham - Clapping, Drums
Dahlia Ambach Caplin - A&R
Dan Fornero - Flugelhorn, , Trumpet
Darlene Perri - Tambourine, Vocals
David Pack - , Vocals (Background)
David T. Walker - Guest Appearance, Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Soloist
Derrick "D.O.A." Allen - Bass
Eddie Miller - Clapping, Fender Rhodes, Guest Appearance, Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Wurlitzer
Eric Marienthal - Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass), Horn Arrangements, , Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor)
Evelyn Morgan - A&R
Fred Wesley - Trombone
Gerald Albright - Guest Appearance, Sax (Alto), Soloist
Greg Adams - Flugelhorn, Horn Arrangements, Trumpet
Ice Candi - Vocals
Kush Gardner - Trumpet
Larry Dunn - Clapping, Fender Rhodes, Mini Moog
Larry Graham - Bass, Guest Appearance
Lee Thornberg
Lee Thornburg - Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Lenny Castro - Percussion
Lori Perri - Tambourine, Vocals
Maceo Parker - Sax (Alto)
Maurice Fitzgerald - Bass
Michael Bland - Drums
Mitchell Cohen - A&R
Monty Neuble - Clapping, , Synthesizer, Talk Box
Morris Pleasure - Bass, , Synthesizer Bass
Musiq (Soulchild) - Clapping, Guest Appearance, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Paul Jackson, Jr. - Clapping, Guitar, Vocals
Phelps "Catfish" Collins - Guitar
Ray Parker, Jr. - Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals
Rhonda Smith - Bass, Clapping,
Rick Gardner - Trumpet
Ricky Peterson - Clapping, Organ (Hammond), , Vocals
Ron Jennings - Guitar, Soloist
Ronnie Laws - Guest Appearance, Sax (Tenor), Soloist
Sam Sims - Clapping, Slap Bass, Vocals
Sharon Perri - Tambourine, Vocals
Sheldon Reynolds - Clapping, Engineer, Guitar, Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Sonny Emory - Drums
Sonny Thompson - Guitar
Tom Scott - Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor)
Tony Maiden - Clapping, Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Soloist, Vocals
Zion Planet 10 - Vocals
* Adam Krinsky - Assistant Engineer
* Anthony Caruso - Assistant Engineer
* Bernie Grundman - Mastering
* Beth Herzhaft - Photography
* Bob Horn - Engineer, Mixing
* Cameron Mizell - Release Coordinator
* Dave K. - Stylist
* David C. Britz - A&R, Executive Producer, Management
* Ed Cherney - Engineer
* Eddie King - Engineer
* Garry Kief - Management
* Hiroko Ito - Assistant Engineer
* Hollis King - Art Direction
* James Karukas - Piano Technician
* Jim Ryberg - Engineer
* John Newcott - Release Coordinator
* Keith Albright - Piano Technician
* Rob Brill - Assistant Engineer
* Ron Tuttle - Piano Technician
* Sachico Asano - Graphic Design
* Scott Steiner - Engineer, Producer
* Steve Cartotto - Music Preparation
* Tommy Tucker - Engineer
* Lisa Hansen - Release Coordinator
* Matt Godina - Assistant
* Maurice White - Clapping, Executive Producer, Mixing,
* Maytal Rozensher - Assistant
* Merrilee McLain - Hair Stylist
* Michael Stever - Horn Arrangements, Music Preparation, Transcription
Brian Culbertson
Active Decades: '90s and '00s
Born: Jan 12, 1973
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Even though Brian Culbertson might be categorized as jazz lite, his music has enough "oomph" to keep you interested. The talented composer/arranger/keyboardist/trombonist's music has maturity that is, at times, beyond his years, and Culbertson credits his dad with helping him develop an ear for the type of music he makes. His father, Jim Culbertson, a respected high school jazz band director and trumpeter, cultivated a love of sanguine sounds for a young Brian, who eagerly listened to anything his dad listened to. Their Decatur, IL, home would be alive with the recorded sounds of Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, the Brecker Brothers, and David Sanborn. Growing up, Culbertson also listened to '70s R&Bpopfunk bands like Blood, Sweat & Tears, Tower of Power, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Culbertson began his musical training at the age of eight with piano lessons; at nine he moved to drums, at ten trombone, and at 12 bass. Bored with classical recital pieces, he began composing in junior high. By his freshman year in high school, he was experimenting with the then-new Yamaha DX-7 synthesizer and an old four-track recorder in the basement of his parents' home. His dedication earned him six individual and five group Down Beat student awards.
During his high-school years, he started getting into MIDI sequencing and synthesizers. He couldn't find players who were able to play his songs on the level he wanted as most of his peers were into heavy metal. So Culbertson, who cites pop producer/songwriter David Foster (Earth, Wind & Fire's "After the Love Is Gone") as one of his strongest influences, learned how to play all the parts himself. After graduation, Culbertson headed to Chicago to begin studies in the music program at DePaul University. On campus, he began to run into high-level musicians and started playing in a band. A family friend helped Culbertson get a deal with MesaBlue Moon in 1994. In the bedroom of the apartment he shared with three college buddies, Culbertson single-handedly recorded his debut album, Long Night Out. The album spent ten consecutive weeks in the Top Five of the adult contemporary charts. On his follow-up album, Modern Life, Culbertson eschewed the one-man band approach in favor of a live band made up of some of the best musicians in Chicago, plus stellar saxophonist Gerald Albright. He's since put out several other albums, including After Hours (1995), Secrets (1997), and Somethin' Bout Love (1999). Culbertson's productions include albums by Bob Mamet and Steve Cole. Having gotten into composing advertising jingles, Culbertson has set his sights on soundtracks. In 2001 the pianist (who also could play the trombone, trumpet, and percussion as well) released Nice & Slow, followed by Come on Up in 2003. Two years later he issued It's on Tonight, and in 2006 Soulful Christmas, a collection of holiday favorites as well as an original.
---Ed Hogan, All Music Guide |
