This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with Brian Culbertson.
Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, writer and producer Brian Culbertson, who will be performing at The Aliante Casino and Hotel, October 14- 15, began his musical studies at the early age of 8 on piano and quickly picked up several other instruments by age 12, including drums, trombone, bass, & euphonium.
Inspired by the great R&B/Jazz/Pop artists of the 70’s like EWF, Tower of Power, Chicago, David Sanborn, and others, Culbertson started composing original music for his 7th grade piano recital and hasn’t stopped having self-produced 16 solo albums, most of which have topped the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts.
Having worked and performed with countless industry all-stars, including Michael McDonald, Chris Botti, Ledisi, Barry Manilow, Herb Alpert, Natalie Cole, Chuck Brown, and Bootsy Collins, Culbertson has received numerous awards including being nominated for a 2012 NAACP Image Award and a 2012 Soul Train Award. Also in 2012, he founded the Napa Valley Jazz Getaway now in its 5th year.
His new album, Funk! is a throwback to the stanky P-Funk records from back in the day combining infectious bass lines, greasy horn licks, sing-a-long hooks and of course, landing hard on the “One.” This record is also a follow-up to his successful Bringing Back The Funk album from 2008, which was co-produced by the late Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire.