Bringing Back the Funk

( 1 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Jonathan Widran
In the 14 years since the Illinois-born and bred composer, producer, and keyboard whiz released his debut Long Night Out at the age of 21, he's evolved from a shy kid writing cheerful pop songs in a bedroom studio to one of contemporary jazz's most electrifying A-list performers. His fan base is large enough that he would have made a killing even had chosen to simply follow the easy grooving candlelit approach of his last non-holiday CD It's on Tonight with something similarly low-key and seductive. Fortunately for everyone who had been complaining that smooth jazz artists had been getting way too predictable in the latter 2000s, he had the pull and the wherewithal to ...
See more details below
CD
$6.59
BN.com price
(Save 40%)$10.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (CD)
  • All (6) from $9.71   
  • New (6) from $9.71   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Jonathan Widran
In the 14 years since the Illinois-born and bred composer, producer, and keyboard whiz released his debut Long Night Out at the age of 21, he's evolved from a shy kid writing cheerful pop songs in a bedroom studio to one of contemporary jazz's most electrifying A-list performers. His fan base is large enough that he would have made a killing even had chosen to simply follow the easy grooving candlelit approach of his last non-holiday CD It's on Tonight with something similarly low-key and seductive. Fortunately for everyone who had been complaining that smooth jazz artists had been getting way too predictable in the latter 2000s, he had the pull and the wherewithal to make his dreams come true and seriously bring back the groove with just about every heavy hitting funkateer from the '70s. The cover shot of "little Culby" sitting and listening on headphones says it all -- he was a tyke when his guest list was defining all that was cool and happening. The luminaries included one-time James Brown bassist Bootsy Collins and Phelps "Catfish" Collins plus members of the Rubber Band and the Horny Horns (all out of P-Funk); Larry Graham (the slap bass great of Sly & the Family Stone and his own Graham Central Station -- no laid-back "One in a Million You" happening here!); Larry Dunn and Sheldon Reynolds (Earth, Wind & Fire); Greg Adams (Tower of Power), Tony Maiden and Bobby Watson (Rufus), Michael Bland, Cora Dunham, and Rhonda Smith (from Prince's bands), solo stars Ray Parker, Jr., David T. Walker, Ronnie Laws, Gerald Albright, Tom Scott, Paul Jackson, Jr., Perri, etc. Modern neo-soul was well represented as well, with Ledisi swaying dreamily through horn accents and multiple keyboard flavors on Bill Withers' lightly obscure gem "The World Keeps Going Around" and Musiq (Soulchild) slammin' it with urban sax god Gerald Albright, a sea of crunching horns and Culbertson's bright chordings on "Hollywood Swinging." Culbertson's choice of covers, which includes Candy Dulfer and Prince vocalist Chance Howard's urgent command from TOP that "You Got to Funkifize" (featuring Adams on trumpet), is inspired, but he also co-wrote a batch of gems that stand proudly alongside the classics. Reynolds and Collins are among the co-writers of the bright, brass splashed "Funkin' Like My Father" that comes across like an invitation to the party with a series of vocalists connecting past to present. The EWF-inspired Culbertson-Reynolds co-write "Always Remember" shows that no matter how crazy he gets with the production, Culbertson is still a joyfully melodic jazz keyboardist at heart. Other original highlights include the simmering gospel-blues number "The House of Music" (Graham and Laws are the billed stars, but Ricky Peterson's Hammond B-3 carries the soul), and the buoyant piano and horn section dance dubbed "The Groove" Parker (who cut his teeth on R&B sessions a decade before "Ghostbusters") chimes in on the percussive, two-minute interlude throw down "Excuse Me...What's Your Name?" which features Culbertson on the trombone, trumpet and Mini-Moog. An even more powerful party all night affair than Dulfer's magnificent Candy Store was the previous year, Bringing Back the Funk is Culbertson's masterwork that took contemporary urban jazz to a whole new level in 2008.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 4/29/2008
  • Label: Grp Records
  • UPC: 602517643437
  • Catalog Number: 001092702
  • Sales rank: 28,949

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Funkin' Like My Father (5:15)
  2. 2 Always Remember - Sheldon Reynolds (4:22)
  3. 3 Hollywood Swinging (4:09)
  4. 4 The House of Music (4:50)
  5. 5 You Got to Funkifize - Chance Howard (5:26)
  6. 6 The Groove (4:41)
  7. 7 The World Keeps Going Around - Ledisi (4:26)
  8. 8 Excuse Me... What's Your Name? (1:59)
  9. 9 Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything) - Eddie Miller (6:02)
  10. 10 Let's Stay in Tonight (5:29)
Read More Show Less

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Brian Culbertson Primary Artist, Clarinet, Percussion, Piano, Trombone, Trumpet, Keyboards, Vocals, Clavinet, Muted Trumpet, Hand Clapping, fender rhodes, Soloist, Mini Moog
Maurice White Track Performer, Hand Clapping
Bernie Worrell Keyboards
Gerald Albright Alto Saxophone, Soloist, Guest Appearance
Ronnie Laws Tenor Saxophone, Soloist, Guest Appearance
Ricky Peterson Hammond Organ, Vocals, Track Performer, Hand Clapping
Tom Scott Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Track Performer
Larry Graham Bass, Guest Appearance
Maceo Parker Alto Saxophone, Track Performer
David T. Walker Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Soloist, Guest Appearance
Michael Bland Drums, Track Performer
Bootsy Collins Vocals, Space Bass, Guest Appearance
Lenny Castro Percussion, Track Performer
Phelps "Catfish" Collins Guitar, Track Performer
Larry Dunn Hand Clapping, fender rhodes, Mini Moog
Sonny Emory Drums, Track Performer
Dan Fornero Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Track Performer
Rick Gardner Trumpet, Track Performer
Paul Jackson Jr. Guitar, Vocals, Track Performer, Hand Clapping
Ron Jennings Guitar, Track Performer, Soloist
Tony Maiden Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals, Track Performer, Hand Clapping, Soloist
Eric Marienthal Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Track Performer
David Pack Background Vocals, Track Performer
Ray Parker Jr. Acoustic Guitar, Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Track Performer
Darlene Perri Tambourine, Vocals
Sharon Perri Tambourine, Vocals
Morris Pleasure Bass, Track Performer, Synthesizer Bass
Sheldon Reynolds Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocals, Hand Clapping
Sam Sims Vocals, Track Performer, Hand Clapping, Slap Bass
Lee Thornburg Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Fred Wesley Trombone, Track Performer
Lori Perri Tambourine, Vocals
Lee Thornberg Track Performer
Greg Adams Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Maurice Fitzgerald Bass, Track Performer
Rhonda Smith Bass, Track Performer, Hand Clapping
Musiq (Soulchild) Vocals, Background Vocals, Hand Clapping, Guest Appearance
Sonny Thompson Guitar
Monty Neuble Synthesizer, Track Performer, Hand Clapping, Talk Box
Bobby Ray Watson Bass, Track Performer
Derrick "D.O.A." Allen Bass, Track Performer
Eddie Miller Keyboards, Vocals, Background Vocals, Hand Clapping, fender rhodes, Wurlitzer, Guest Appearance
Chris Miskel Drums, Track Performer
Chance Howard Vocals, Background Vocals, Clavinet, Hand Clapping, Synthesizer Bass, Guest Appearance
Cora Dunham Drums, Track Performer, Hand Clapping
Kush Gardner Trumpet
Ice Candi Vocals, Track Performer
Zion Planet 10 Vocals, Track Performer
Technical Credits
Maurice White Composer, Executive Producer, Audio Production
Bill Withers Composer
Bill Meyers Horn Arrangements
Larry Graham Composer
Ronald Bell Composer
Michael Bland Contributor
Bootsy Collins Composer, Producer, Engineer
Ed Cherney Engineer
Brian Culbertson Arranger, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Executive Producer, Audio Production
Bernie Grundman Mastering
Bob Horn Engineer
Garry Kief Management
Eric Marienthal Horn Arrangements
Sheldon Reynolds Composer, Producer, Engineer
Donald Moore Composer
Scott Steiner Producer, Engineer
Greg Adams Horn Arrangements
Maurice Fitzgerald Composer
Hollis King Art Direction
Pete Roberts Composer
Eddie King Engineer
Bobby Ray Watson Contributor
Jim Ryberg Engineer
Sachico Asano Graphic Design
David C. Britz Executive Producer, Management
Chris Miskel Composer
Michael Stever Horn Arrangements
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 1 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(1)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A reviewer

    Awesome is a word that needs to used to describe this masterful piece of music. It was the talk of the Berks Jazz fest this year.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review