Brian Culbertson Pushes The Funk

Currently on the road with his 11-piece band, jazz musician/songwriter/producer Brian Culbertson says he also plans to do a Christmas tour again this year. "We're still working on the lineup," he tells Billboard.biz during a recent tour break.

But right now the Los Angeles-based keyboardist and trombonist is busy promoting his latest GRP album, "Bringing Back the Funk." It features six original compositions and covers four '70s classics, including Kool & the Gang's "Hollywood Swinging." Guest artists and musicians include Ledisi, Musiq Soulchild, and Larry Graham (Sly & the Family Stone). The album - executive produced by Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White - stands at No. 15 this week on the Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

"I'd been thinking about doing a funk record for a long time," says Culbertson. "But the timing was never right. Then 18 months ago I went to Las Vegas and got to sit in on a Prince jam session. It was an inspiring night of music; I also met Larry Graham then. All that started me thinking, it's time."

Culbertson notes that a remix of the opening track, "Funkin' Like My Father" featuring Bootsy Collins, is coming soon. And looking down the road to his next album, Culbertson is mulling the idea of "doing a kind of straight, mid-tempo R&B record with a lot of cool vocal guests."

Culbertson's current tour winds up Oct. 2 in Baltimore, Maryland. Prior to that, he'll be making stops in Las Vegas (Sept. 5), Orlando (Sept. 11) and Atlanta (Sept. 19).

By Gail Mitchell, L.A.
billboard.biz

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