Brian Culbertson Bringing Back The Funk CD

The music of light jazz superstar Brian Culbertson is more likely to be associated with candlelit dinners and walks on the beach than shaking one's tailfeather on the dance floor, but BRINGING BACK THE FUNK aims to change all that. With help from a veritable who's who of funk luminaries, including Maceo Parker, Bootsy Collins, Fred Wesley, Bernie Worrell, and Sharon Jones, among others, the trombonist/keyboardist/composer lays down some serious grooves on tracks like "Funkin' Like My Father," "Hollywood Swinging," and "You Got to Funkatize." There is enough of a smooth sheen here to satisfy Culbertson's old fans, but enough funk punch to keep things bouncing.

Photographer: Beth Herzhaft.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Bobby Ray Watson; Michael Bland .

Arranger: Brian Culbertson.

Personnel: Brian Culbertson (vocals, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Clavinet, keyboards, mini-Moog synthesizer, percussion); Ray Parker, Jr. (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Sheldon Reynolds (vocals, guitar, background vocals); Paul Jackson, Jr. , Tony Maiden (vocals, guitar); Eddie Miller (vocals, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards, background vocals); Chance Howard (vocals, Clavinet, bass synthesizer, background vocals); Lori Perri, Sharon Perri, Darlene Perri (vocals, tambourine); Musiq (Soulchild) (vocals, background vocals); Zion Planet 10, Ice Candi, Ricky Peterson, Sam Sims, Bootsy Collins (vocals); David T. Walker, Sonny Thompson , Ron Jennings, Phelps "Catfish" Collins (guitar); Eric Marienthal (clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Gerald Albright, Maceo Parker (alto saxophone); Tom Scott (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Ronnie Laws (tenor saxophone); Dan Fornero, Greg Adams, Lee Thornburg (trumpet, flugelhorn); Kush Gardner, Rick Gardner (trumpet); Fred Wesley (trombone); Larry Dunn (Fender Rhodes piano, mini-Moog synthesizer); Bernie Worrell (keyboards); Monty Neuble (synthesizer, talk box); Morris Pleasure (bass synthesizer); Chris Miskel, Cora Dunham, Michael Bland , Sonny Emory (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); David Pack (background vocals); Oscar Seaton Jr., Zion Planet 10, The Perri Sisters, Ice Candi, DJizzle, Cora Dunham, Derek "D.O.A." Allen, Eddie Miller, Larry Graham, Ledisi, Maurice White, Sonny Thompson , Bleu, Maurice Fitzgerald, Rhonda Smith , Bobby Watson, Kush.

Audio Mixers: Maurice White; Bob Horn; Brian Culbertson.

JazzTimes (p.122) - "Culbertson puts his trombone through calisthenics...and rounds up Larry Graham and saxophonist Ronnie Laws for 'The House Of Music,' a sweet blues trip that breaks down near its end to a wonderfully chaotic resolution of brass and party chants."