Brian Culbertson
Encyclopedia
Brian Culbertson is a musician
and instrumentalist from Decatur, Illinois
, United States. Son of jazz
band director and trumpet
er Jim Culbertson, Brian's instruments include the keyboard and trombone
.
Heavily influenced by funk, much of Culbertson's material is funk
-based instrumental, but he has begun calling upon vocalists such as Trey Lorenz, Marc Nelson
, Kenny Lattimore
and Avant
to add to his later pieces.
Culbertson has released twelve albums so far. The first three were on the Blue Moon label: "Long Night Out" 1994, "Modern Life" 1995, and "After Hours" 1996. After moving to Atlantic Records
, three more albums followed: "Secrets" 1997, "Somethin' Bout Love" 1999, and the critically acclaimed "Nice & Slow" 2001. "Come on Up" 2003 was released on Warner Jazz, and Culbertson then moved to GRP Records
for his project, "It's On Tonight" 2005 which debuted at #1 on Billboard Magazine's
contemporary-jazz charts.
Brian Culbertson also works with many other musicians in the contemporary jazz arena, often as a composer
and arranger
. Culbertson is currently credited with working with Dave Koz
, Peter White
, Richard Elliot
, Jeff Lorber
, Michael Lington
and legendary A&M Records
composer and producer Herb Alpert
. He is married to Michelle Culbertson, also known by her stage name Micaela Haley.
Brian has regularly appeared live on many radio stations including KTWV
in Los Angeles and the UK's Solar radio with Michael J. Parlett
.
Brian has also regularly been an opening act for Barry Manilow's shows outside of Las Vegas
since 2007.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and instrumentalist from Decatur, Illinois
Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
, United States. Son of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
band director and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
er Jim Culbertson, Brian's instruments include the keyboard and trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
.
Heavily influenced by funk, much of Culbertson's material is funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
-based instrumental, but he has begun calling upon vocalists such as Trey Lorenz, Marc Nelson
Marc Nelson
Marc Nelson is an American singer. His mother was the late R&B/Dance singer Phyllis Nelson, known for the songs 'I Like You' and 'Move Closer'. He was an original member of Boyz II Men while still attending Philadelphia's High School of Performing Arts...
, Kenny Lattimore
Kenny Lattimore
Kenny Lattimore is an American R&B singer. Among his most popular hits were "Never Too Busy" and "For You".- Early career :...
and Avant
Avant
Myron Avant , better known as Avant is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He is best known for hits such as "Separated" , "My First Love," which one version features KeKe Wyatt, and "Read Your Mind"...
to add to his later pieces.
Culbertson has released twelve albums so far. The first three were on the Blue Moon label: "Long Night Out" 1994, "Modern Life" 1995, and "After Hours" 1996. After moving to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, three more albums followed: "Secrets" 1997, "Somethin' Bout Love" 1999, and the critically acclaimed "Nice & Slow" 2001. "Come on Up" 2003 was released on Warner Jazz, and Culbertson then moved to GRP Records
GRP Records
GRP Records is an American jazz record company, owned by Universal Music Group and operates through its Verve Music Group. The company's name has had different meanings. In its early days, it stood for "Grusin/Rosen Productions," after the founders...
for his project, "It's On Tonight" 2005 which debuted at #1 on Billboard Magazine's
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
contemporary-jazz charts.
Brian Culbertson also works with many other musicians in the contemporary jazz arena, often as a composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
. Culbertson is currently credited with working with Dave Koz
Dave Koz
Dave Koz is an American smooth jazz saxophonist.- Life and career :Dave Koz was born on March 27, 1963 in Encino, California....
, Peter White
Peter White (musician)
Peter White is a smooth jazz and jazz fusion guitarist. He also plays the accordion and the piano. His brother, Danny White, was one of the original members who formed the UK based band Matt Bianco.-Career:...
, Richard Elliot
Richard Elliot
Richard Elliot is a Scottish-born saxophone player.He was a member of the funk band Tower of Power playing tenor sax for 5 years during the 1980s. He also worked on Stacy Lattisaw's 1986 album "Take Me All The Way". His solo career took off when he remade the Percy Sledge classic "When a Man...
, Jeff Lorber
Jeff Lorber
Jeff Lorber is an American Grammy Award-nominated keyboardist, composer, and record producer.After leading his own group, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, he went on to pioneer the smooth jazz genre....
, Michael Lington
Michael Lington
Michael Lington is a contemporary jazz saxophonist and recording artist.Lington plays a distinctive contemporary saxophone leaning strongly towards the pop side of jazz. He reaches a younger demographic than traditional jazz listeners and is emerging as a contemporary face of jazz.Born in...
and legendary A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
composer and producer Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
. He is married to Michelle Culbertson, also known by her stage name Micaela Haley.
Brian has regularly appeared live on many radio stations including KTWV
KTWV
KTWV is a commercial radio station located in Los Angeles, California, broadcasting to the Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside–San Bernardino and Ventura County areas on 94.7 FM. KTWV airs a hybrid Smooth AC radio format branded as "94.7 The Wave"...
in Los Angeles and the UK's Solar radio with Michael J. Parlett
Michael J. Parlett
Michael J. Parlett is an English jazz saxophonist producer and radio host.-Career:Michael J. Parlett is a prominent British saxophonist and bandleader whose musical abilities were borne of the 1980 jazz music genre...
.
Brian has also regularly been an opening act for Barry Manilow's shows outside of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
since 2007.
Discography
| titles | year | label | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Long Night Out" | 1994 | Mesa / Bluemoon | |
| "Modern Life" | 1995 | Mesa / Bluemoon | |
| "After Hours" | 1996 | Mesa / Bluemoon | |
| "Secrets" | 1997 | Mesa / Bluemoon | |
| "Somethin' Bout Love" | 1999 | Atlantic / Wea | |
| "Nice & Slow" | 2001 | Warner Bros / Wea | |
| "Come On Up" | 2003 | Warner Bros / Wea | |
| "It's On Tonight" | 2005 | GRP Records | |
| "A Soulful Christmas" | 2006 | GRP Records | |
| "Bringing Back the Funk Bringing Back The Funk Bringing Back The Funk is an album by Brian Culbertson which was released on GRP Records. The album reached number 1 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums Chart and stayed there for two weeks... " | 2008 | GRP Records | |
| "Live From The Inside" | 2009 | Verve | |
| "XII" | 2010 | GRP Records |