Music >> Artists >> Jazz
Genre:
Jazz

Years Active:
'90s, '00s, '10s






Brian Culbertson

Biography

Even though Brian Culbertson might be categorized as jazz lite, his music has enough "oomph" to keep you interested. The talented composer, arranger, keyboardist, and trombonist displayed a talent beyond his years at an early age, and 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 in the young Brian, who eagerly listened to anything his dad put on the stereo. Their Decatur, Illinois, 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&B/pop/funk bands like Blood, Sweat & Tears, Tower of Power, and Earth, Wind & Fire. He 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 Mesa/Blue 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 set his sights on soundtracks. In 2001 the pianist (who 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. In 2008 Culbertson released Bringing Back the Funk, an acclaimed album that is credited with bringing new life to the urban jazz genre. It featured a sizable list of collaborators including Bootsy Collins, Larry Graham, Ray Parker, Jr., and David T. Walker, just to name a few. He followed it with a live album in 2009 and XII, a return to the studio, in 2010. In June of 2012, Culbertson released Dreams, his 13th album, featuring a host of all-star contemporary jazz and R&B session players and vocalists. Later that year he set about realizing a dream project.

Now an independent artist, Culbertson had long desired to revisit the music from his 1994 debut offering, A Long Night Out, which was initially cut in his apartment on a very limited budget. He played most of the instruments himself but also enlisted a small backing group. In 2013 he re-recorded the same tracks, with a large all-star lineup that included Nathan East, Russ Freeman, Steve Lukather, and Candy Dulfer, to name a few, plus a 33-piece orchestra. Entitled Another Long Night Out, it was issued on his own BCM label in February of 2014.

Top Albums


1. 20th Anniver..
It's On Tonight (iTunes Version), Brian Culbertson
2. It's On Toni..
Dreams, Brian Culbertson
3. Dreams
XII (Bonus Track Version), Brian Culbertson
4. XII (Bonus T..
Another Long Night Out, Brian Culbertson
5. Another Long..
Bringing Back the Funk (Bonus Track Version), Brian Culbertson
6. Bringing Bac..
Live from the Inside (Bonus Track Version), Brian Culbertson
7. Live from th..
A Soulful Christmas, Brian Culbertson
8. A Soulful Ch..
Nice & Slow, Brian Culbertson
9. Nice & S..
Come On Up, Brian Culbertson
10. Come On Up
Secrets, Brian Culbertson
11. Secrets
Long Night Out, Brian Culbertson
12. Long Night O..
Somethin' Bout Love, Brian Culbertson
13. Somethin' Bo..
Breathe - Piano for Relaxation, Massage, Yoga and Meditation, Brian Culbertson
14. Breathe - Pi..
Modern Life, Brian Culbertson
15. Modern Life
After Hours, Brian Culbertson
16. After Hours
Skies Wide Open Remixes - EP (feat. Avant), Brian Culbertson
17. Skies Wide O..
Eva - Single, Stéphane Novak
18. Eva - Single
The Christmas Song - Single, Brian Culbertson
19. The Christma..
You're My Music (feat. Noel Gourdin) - Single, Brian Culbertson
20. You're My Mu..

Top Songs

NameAlbumTimePrice
1.
Secret Garden (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..9:31$1.29
2.
Get It On (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..8:27$1.29
3.
Do You Really Love Me? (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..5:42$1.29
4.
Horizon (feat. "Patches" Ste..Another Long Night Out4:28$1.29
5.
Our Love (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..5:57$1.29
6.
On My Mind (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..3:13$1.29
7.
Skies Wide Open (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..3:39$1.29
8.
Come to Me (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..3:59$1.29
9.
Hollywood Swinging (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..2:55$1.29
10.
You're My Music (feat. Noel Gour..Dreams4:46$1.29
11.
City Lights Outro (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..1:13$1.29
12.
Funkin' Like My Father (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..4:49$1.29
13.
Serpentine Fire (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..3:26$1.29
14.
Think Free (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..4:31$1.29
15.
Horizon (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..4:43$1.29
16.
Another Love (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..2:44$1.29
17.
Fullerton Ave. (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..5:41$1.29
18.
Let's Get Started (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..3:44$1.29
19.
All About You (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..2:26$1.29
20.
Always Remember (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..4:25$1.29
21.
City Lights Intro (Live)20th Anniversary Tour (Live..0:41$1.29
22.
EvaEva - Single2:37$0.99
23.
EvaEva - Single2:32$0.99
24.
Funkin' Like My FatherMixtape: Funky Jazz5:15$0.99
25.
Always RememberMixtape; Grooves4:22$0.99

Top Music Videos

Skies Wide Open, Brian Culbertson & Avant
1. Skies Wide Op...


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