Brian Culbertson Releases Funk-Influenced CD
New Album Breathes Much-Needed Life Into Smooth Jazz
Oct 24, 2008
The smooth jazz format has replaced the "easy listening" music of the eighties and early nineties on many radio dials. Yet , like its predecessor, the genre faces criticism from traditionalists who regard it as an inferior, watered-down version of the original work that spawned it. Easy listenting music is rarely easy to listen to, and the same can be said for smooth jazz.
Such circumstances make the newest release from 35-year-old Brian Culbertson all the more noteworthy. His latest effort, Bringing Back the Funk, invites fans of popular and jazz music to see the potential for blending the genres without sacrificing the melody of the former or the spontaneity and passion of the latter. This funk-laden disc might be the best party album of 2008.
Turning Funk Into Smooth Jazz
Culbertson excels at translating the funk stylings of the last three decades into a format that will be palatable to listeners who might not regard themselves as jazz fans. "Funkin' Like My Father" is bursting with elements of Parliament/Funkadelic's early work, complete with several lyrical allusions to their biggest hits (e.g., "Up for the Down Stroke"). The result is, as Culbertson calls it, "new wave with an old school connection."
Likewise, the Kool & the Gang classic "Hollywood Swinging" is re-worked with a modern twist, with help from Musiq Soulchild and Gerald Albright. The track fails to match the energy of the original, but it comes close, and the integration of styles between Culbertson, R&B star Musiq, and jazzman Albright is symbolic of Culbertson's contribution to smooth jazz .
Fans who regard smooth jazz as overly simplistic will be pleasantly surprised by "The House of Music," on which Culbertson and his band take a simple melody and exhaust its potential over five of the most enjoyable minutes on the album. Similarly, "Let's Stay in Tonight" is a perfect example of an aptly-titled track, with a simple piano hook that conveys a simple, yet significant, message.
An All-Star Supporting Cast
Bringing Back the Funk benefits not only from Culbertson's exceptional musicianship, but also from the group of artists who contribute to the disc. Bootsy Collins adds his own funky energy to "Funkin' Like My Father," while Larry Graham and Ronnie Laws help turn one of the album's simplest tracks ("The House of Music") into a memorable melody. Ledisi's powerful voice distinguishes "The World Keeps Going Round" from the sanitized majority of vocal tracks on smooth jazz radio.
Professor Arrington's Grade
With the exception of two forgettable tracks near the end of the CD ("Voices Inside" and "Excuse Me . . . What's Your Name?"), Bringing Back the Funk represents some of Culbertson's best work. The album should generate a sizable pool of new listeners for Culbertson in particular and for smooth jazz in general. Culbertson earns a spot on the professor's honor roll with this B+ effort,
