Posts Tagged ‘ Brian Culbertson ’

Brian Culbertson – White

BrianCulbertson-White-01-FrontThose who have been following my reviews at http://www.smoothjazz.eu for years will be familiar with this artist. R&B and smooth jazz hitman Brian Culbertson started years ago with his “Hang Club”, which he streamed weekly on YouTube.

From there came the inspiration for the 3 albums of “The Trilogy”. After all, Brian composed, produced and played this trilogy with the help of more than 800 members of that “Hang Club”, the third part of which has now been released.

It is also Brian’s 25th album. The first part, ‘Red’, was about falling in love and sounded sensual and romantic. The second ‘Blue’, on the other hand, was rather melancholy during a love break-up. But this third volume is a reunion, and sounds hopeful with upbeat urban grooves, nuanced contemporary jazz and pop songs.

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2022
06/02
CATEGORY
CD Reviews
Patrick Van de Wiele
Smooth Jazz
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Brian Culbertson – White

BrianCulbertson-White-01-Front

The three-phase arc of a longtime relationship serves as the muse of R&B-jazz hitmaker Brian Culbertson’s trilogy of instrumental albums that he wrote, produced and performed with creative input from the 800-plus members of his Hang Club. On Friday (May 6), the third disc in the series, a collection of hopeful songs titled “The Trilogy, Part 3: White,” drops on the BCM Entertainment label. It’s Culbertson’s 25th album that to date has launched nearly forty singles to shoot to number one on the Billboard chart.

Culbertson composed the thirty songs that populate the three albums thematically along what he describes as the three-part arc of a long-term relationship: the hot and steamy “falling in love” phase, the rocky middle when perhaps they even break up for a bit, and the couple reunites to live “happily ever after” phase. The first album in the series, the sensual and romantic “Part 1: Red” was released last October and the second set, the melancholy “Part 2: Blue” streeted in January. “Part 3: White” is slightly more diverse stylistically with the uplifting urban grooves, nuanced contemporary jazz and shimmering pop songs fostering feelings of hope as the relationship thrives and endures.

All three albums in “The Trilogy” were crafted with input from the Hang Club, a tiered membership program via Patreon that Culbertson formed in 2020 tied to the weekly Friday night show that he streams live on YouTube. Hang Club members were granted exclusive behind-the-scenes access into every aspect of Culbertson’s creative process: from songwriting, arranging, recording, producing and mixing. Continue reading →

2022
04/25
CATEGORY
Smooth Jazz
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Brian Culbertson – The Trilogy Part II – Blue

BlueJazz/R&B keyboardist Brian Culbertson is not only successful in the area of smooth jazz. But he unfolds his primordial power when he pushes into the fields of Funk. With Bringing Back The Funk, released in 2008 on GRP Records, and Funk! on his own label in 2016 he has already set two milestones. His next album XX, so named because it’s his twentieth album, extended the spectrum in the spirit of his diversity.

Further releases are Music From The Hang (2020) and Soundscapes (2021). His newest project is The Trilogy, Part 1 – Red (2021). The Trilogy consists of Part 1: red = passion (coming 9.24.21), Part 2: blue = melancholy (coming 1.14.22), and Part 3: white = hope (coming 5.6.22). All songs are written, arranged, and produced by Brian Culbertson.

The second album Blue will be released January 14, 2022. However Brian sells the first badge of signed pre-ordered copies now! Get your copy here.

2021
11/25
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Smooth Jazz
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Brian Culbertson – The Trilogy, Part 1: Red

RedHitmaker Brian Culbertson never imagined hanging with fans online would lead to something of a collaborative masterclass spawning an album trilogy, but that’s how “The Trilogy” was conceived. The first album in the series, an intimate, passion-themed set titled “The Trilogy, Part 1: Red,” dropped Friday from BCM Entertainment. Written, produced and performed by Culbertson, the multi-instrumentalist credits members of his Hang Club with helping him craft the tracks, title the songs, and even assist with the cover artwork via weekly members-only YouTube Live sessions.

As viewership for Culbertson’s Friday night Facebook Live show, The Hang, took off in the spring of 2020 while he was unable to tour, he hatched the idea of creating The Hang Club, providing exclusive perks and behind-the-scenes opportunities for tier two members and above, including access to smaller Monday and Wednesday night live streams via YouTube unlisted. The Monday night sessions evolved into somewhat of a masterclass at which “Professor BC,” as Hang Club members dubbed him, wrote songs with immediate input from the Hang Club.

“What was cool about it was I truly got instant fan feedback of what they were digging and what they may not like. I got to bring them along, educating the fanbase on what an early demo sounds like, which is nothing like a finished record. I had to educate everyone’s ears to understand where it starts – the beginning, middle and end – after it’s mastered and how it really transforms over time and gets better and better and better slowly. That’s been a fun part both from my side and for them,” said Culbertson about Hang Club members. Continue reading →

2021
10/02
CATEGORY
Smooth Jazz
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Brian Culbertson – The Trilogy, Part I – Red

RedJazz/R&B keyboardist Brian Culbertson is not only successful in the area of smooth jazz. But he unfolds his primordial power when he pushes into the fields of Funk. With Bringing Back The Funk, released in 2008 on GRP Records, and Funk! on his own label in 2016 he has already set two milestones. His next album XX, so named because it’s his twentieth album, extended the spectrum in the spirit of his diversity.

Further releases are Music From The Hang (2020) and Soundscapes (2021). His newest project is The Trilogy, Part 1 – Red (2021). The Trilogy consists of Part 1: red = passion (coming 9.24.21), Part 2: blue = melancholy (coming 1.14.22), and Part 3: white = hope (coming 5.6.22). All songs are written, arranged, and produced by Brian Culbertson.

Brian is performing on the new album Piano, Vocals, Keyboards, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Wah Clavinet, Hammond B3 Organ, Minimoog, Guitars (on Tracks 2 and 7), Synth Bass, Fender Jazz Bass (on Tracks 1, 2, 4, and 7), Hi-Hat, Cymbals, Snare Drum, Hand Claps, Drum Programming, Percussion, Sound Design, and Trombone. Further musicians are Isaiah Sharkey – Lead and Rhythm Guitars on Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6, Randy Bowland – Rhythm Guitars on Tracks 1 and 3, Darnell “Showcase” Taylor – Guitars on Tracks 9 and 10, Alex Al – Fender Precision Bass on Track 3, Rishon Odel – Fender Jazz Bass on Track 9, and Micaela Haley – Vocal FX on Track 5 and Vocals on Track 10.

Pre-order the album on Brian’s website.

2021
09/05
CATEGORY
Smooth Jazz
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Brian Culbertson – Soundscapes

In Brian’s own words: “This project is a journey into film music, something I’ve always been fascinated with. It is also meant to calm and help reconnect with nature.

NOTE: Total length is exactly 25 minutes. However, the last track (“Silence”) is 2:19 of nothing, total silence. This is of course on purpose. After listening to the first 5 tracks (which all meld into one another), I did not want it to either immediately start over from the beginning, nor did I want another random song to start playing as that would have ruined the ‘total relaxation’ that you’re feeling. I find it similar to the end of a yoga session when you’re lying in corpse pose for a few minutes before getting up.”

Get the album here.

2021
03/19
CATEGORY
Movie Score
New Age
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Brian Culbertson – Music From The Hang

Jazz/R&B keyboardist Brian Culbertson is not only successful in the area of smooth jazz. But he unfolds his primordial power when he pushes into the fields of Funk. With Bringing Back The Funk, released in 2008 on GRP Records, and Funk! on his own label in 2016 he has already set two milestones. His next album XX, so named because it’s his twentieth album, extended the spectrum in the spirit of his diversity.

His newest project released December 4, 2020 is Music From The Hang. This is a collection of tracks from his Friday night live streams meant to give you the feel of watching the show. From the pre-show “The Hangout,” the opening theme “It’s Friday Night” all the way through the encore, “A New Beginning,” you’ll feel like you’re watching The Hang. Also includes the brand new songs “Let’s Go” (feat. Eric Darius) and “Hey There” (feat. Marcus Anderson), plus “Happy Birthday” and more!

Buy this album on Brian’s website.

2020
12/19
CATEGORY
Smooth Jazz
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Brian Culbertson – XX

Jazz/R&B keyboardist Brian Culbertson is not only successful in the area of smooth jazz. But he unfolds his primordial power when he pushes into the fields of Funk. With Bringing Back The Funk, released in 2008 on GRP Records, and Funk! on his own label in 2016 he has already set two milestones. His new album XX, so named because it’s his twentieth album, extends the spectrum in the spirit of his diversity.

A large number of musicians have participated in this very elaborate production. Bootsy Collins, Ray Parker Jr., Avery* Sunshine, Maze’s Jubu Smith, Everette Harp, Marcus Anderson, DW3, Byron “Mr. Talkbox” Chambers, Noel Gourdin, Patches Stewart, Paul Jackson Jr., Nicholas Cole, Eric Marienthal, Ricky Peterson, Alex Al, Michael Thompson, Khari Parker, Lenny Castro, Gerey Johnson, Chance Howard, Ouiwey Collins, Candice Cheatham and Derek “D.O.A.” Allen. Furthermore singer Micaela Haley (aka Michelle Culbertson, Brian’s wife) and a gospel choir.

The opener Get Up! is the right advice in our crisis-ridden time, an energy booster with strong horn insert (Michael Stever (trumpet), Marqueal Jordan (saxes), Brian Culbertson (trombone), Marcus Anderson (saxes)) is the best rocket fuel for Brian’s funk explosion.

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2020
04/23
CATEGORY
CD Reviews
Funk
R&B
Smooth Jazz
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Brian Culbertson – XX

Instead of being on stage in Pittsburgh Friday night, one week into a planned 70+-date coast-to-coast concert tour set up to launch his milestone twentieth album release, the aptly titled “XX” (Roman numerals for twenty), R&B/jazz/funk multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson will be home, marking the occasion by hanging out with a glass of wine and entertaining fans via his popular Facebook Live broadcast “Friday Night Studio Hang” (8pm ET/5pm PT).

While The XX Tour that was to start April 1 with shows booked through June had to be pushed to 2021 because of the corona virus pandemic, the new album’s retro-charged first single, “Get Up!” is already at No. 6 on the Billboard chart, easily within striking distance of becoming the hitmaker’s 33rd No. 1 single. Culbertson went all in on the 1980s vibes, even creating a “Get Up!” ringtone that is available for iPhones.

Issued on the BCM Entertainment label, Culbertson wrote and produced “XX,” taking a fresh approach by incorporating a bit of everything he has done throughout his versatile career.

“This album was about creating lots of different moods, which is a little different for me in terms of what I’ve done over the last several albums that were more conceptual and consistent from beginning to end – either the romantic side of things, a funk album, straight-ahead jazz trio or what not. I deliberately set out to have no one genre or one style in mind; just give people a total mix of everything that I do – funky instrumentals, jazz, R&B slow jams, gospel, pop and straight-up funk” said Culbertson, who hopes the collection will uplift listeners during this unprecedented time of social distancing and economic uncertainty. Continue reading →

2020
04/12
CATEGORY
Funk
R&B
Smooth Jazz
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Brian Culbertson – Winter Stories

Pianist and composer Brian Culbertson has put himself in a tight spot with the announcement that his new album Winter Stories is the first in a series of four albums related to the four seasons of the year. This announcement comes as a bit of a surprise as he has just pledged his album XX for the next year.

According to the liner notes is Winter Stories not a Christmas album, however is the album blessed by the holiday spirit. Brian performs on the new album piano, Wurlitzer, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3 Organ, percussion and Celeste. He is accompanied by Steve Rodby (acoustic bass), Khan Parker (drums) and Lenny Castro (percussion on two songs). All songs are written, arranged and produced by Brian.

Brian introduces the listener to his album on Sitting By The Fire with cautious long reverberating keystrokes. The title already conveys the coziness of the music. Endless plains, snow-capped mountains and torrential rivers are the main features of the state of Montana, to which Brian Culbertson dedicates his song Montana Skies.

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2019
12/24
CATEGORY
CD Reviews
Smooth Jazz
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