Bringing Back the Funk

by Brian Culbertson

Overview

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. ~ Jonathan Widran

Product Details

Release Date:	04/29/2008
Label:	Grp
UPC:	0602517643437
Rank:	83168

Tracks

1. Funkin' Like My Father
2. Always Remember
3. Hollywood Swinging
4. The House of Music
5. You Got to Funkifize
6. The Groove
7. The World Keeps Going Around
8. Excuse Me... What's Your Name?
9. Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)
10. Let's Stay in Tonight

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Brian Culbertson   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Soloist,Trumpet,Clapping,Clarinet,Clavinet,Trombone,Keyboards,Mini Moog,Percussion,Fender Rhodes,Trumpet (Muted)
Lenny Castro   Percussion
Rhonda Smith   Bass,Clapping
Ronnie Laws   Soloist,Sax (Tenor),Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Maurice White   Clapping
Sheldon Reynolds   Guitar,Vocals,Clapping,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Paul Jackson, Jr.   Guitar,Vocals,Clapping
Bernie Worrell   Keyboards
Larry Dunn   Clapping,Mini Moog,Fender Rhodes
Gerald Albright   Soloist,Sax (Alto),Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Chance Howard   Vocals,Clapping,Clavinet,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Synthesizer Bass,Vocals (Background)
Tony Maiden   Guitar,Vocals,Soloist,Clapping,Guitar (Rhythm)
Bootsy Collins   Vocals,Space Bass,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Ledisi   Featured Artist
Larry Graham   Bass,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Fred Wesley   Trombone
Phelps "Catfish" Collins   Guitar
Eddie Miller   Featured Artist,Fender Rhodes,Vocals (Background),Vocals,Clapping,Keyboards,Wurlitzer,Guest Artist
Maceo Parker   Sax (Alto)
Greg Adams   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Eric Marienthal   Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone),Clarinet (Bass)
Ricky Peterson   Vocals,Clapping,Organ (Hammond)
David T. Walker   Guitar,Soloist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Guitar (Rhythm)
David Pack   Vocals (Background)
Ice Candi   Vocals
Zion Planet 10   Vocals
Darlene Perri   Vocals,Tambourine
Derek "DOA" Allen   Bass
Kush Gardner   Trumpet
Sharon Perri   Vocals,Tambourine
Bobby Ray Watson   Bass
Rick Gardner   Trumpet
Ray Parker, Jr.   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Michael Bland   Drums
Daniel Fornero   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Monte Neuble   Clapping,Talk Box,Synthesizer
Morris Pleasure   Bass,Synthesizer Bass
Sonny Thompson   Guitar
Cora Dunham   Drums,Clapping
Lori Perri   Vocals,Tambourine
Sonny Emory   Drums
Lee Thornburg   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Maurice Fitzgerald   Bass
Ron Jennings   Guitar,Soloist
Sam Sims   Vocals,Clapping,Slap Bass
Tom Scott   Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Musiq Soulchild   Vocals,Clapping,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Chris Miskel   Drums

Technical Credits

Robert "Kool" Bell   Composer
Lenny Castro   Performer
Robert "Spike" Mickens   Composer
Phil Upchurch   Composer
Ronald Bell   Composer
Scott Steiner   Engineer,Producer
Rhonda Smith   Performer
Donald Moore   Composer
Maurice White   Mixing,Composer,Performer,Audio Production,Executive Producer
Sheldon Reynolds   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Paul Jackson, Jr.   Performer
Bernie Grundman   Mastering
Bob Horn   Mixing,Engineer
Bill Withers   Composer
Dahlia Ambach Caplin   A&R
Larry Dunn   Composer
Richard Evans   Composer
Adam Krinsky   Assistant Engineer
Cameron Mizell   Release Coordinator
Lee Thornberg   Performer
Anthony Caruso   Assistant Engineer
Eddie King   Engineer
Bootsy Collins   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Larry Graham   Composer
Fred Wesley   Performer
Phelps "Catfish" Collins   Performer
Ed Cherney   Engineer
Maceo Parker   Performer
Emilio Castillo   Composer
Greg Adams   Horn Arrangements
Eric Marienthal   Performer,Horn Arrangements
Ricky Peterson   Performer
David Pack   Performer
Merrilee McLain   Hair Stylist
Steve Cartotto   Music Preparation
Ice Candi   Performer
Zion Planet 10   Performer
Hollis King   Art Direction
Hiroko Ito   Assistant Engineer
Derek "DOA" Allen   Performer
Beth Herzhaft   Photography
John Newcott   Release Coordinator
Lisa Hansen   Release Coordinator
Rick Gardner   Performer
Ray Parker, Jr.   Performer
Michael Bland   Performer
Tommy Tucker   Engineer
Brian Culbertson   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Audio Production,Executive Producer
Daniel Fornero   Performer
Monte Neuble   Performer
Mitchell Cohen   A&R
Morris Pleasure   Performer
Bobby Ray Watson   Performer
Michael Stever   Transcription,Horn Arrangements,Music Preparation
David C. Britz   A&R,Management,Executive Producer
Jim Ryberg   Engineer
Ron Tuttle   Piano Technician
Maytal Rozensher   Assistant
Sachico Asano   Graphic Design
Cora Dunham   Performer
Evelyn Morgan   A&R
Matt Godina   Assistant
George "Funky" Brown   Composer
Claydes Smith   Composer
Tony Maiden   Performer
Stephen "Doc" Kupka   Composer
Sonny Emory   Performer
Bill Meyers   Horn Arrangements
Dennis "D.T." Thomas   Composer
Maurice Fitzgerald   Composer,Performer
Rob Brill   Assistant Engineer
Ron Jennings   Performer
Pete Roberts   Composer
Richard Westfield   Composer
Sam Sims   Performer
Tom Scott   Performer
Chris Miskel   Composer,Performer
Richard Powell   Composer
Dave K.   Stylist
Garry Kief   Management
Keith Albright   Piano Technician
James Karukas   Piano Technician