BRIAN CULBERTSON
Bringing Back the Funk
GRP Records
Brian Culbertson might seem like an unlikely
funk crusader, but that is just what he is on his latest
release, Bringing Back the Funk. The funk in question is
of a sophisticated nature that overlays the bass-driven
bottom end with horns, vocal harmonies, and layers of keyboards.
It’s a commercial funk sound that ‘s also artistically
successful, largely because Culbertson has assembled an
incredible group of musicians from funk’s heyday,
beginning with the album’s executive producer Maurice
White. White is a founding member of Earth Wind and Fire,
a group that managed to combine the danceability of funk,
the excitement of rock, and the hook-laden melodies of pop.
“Having Maurice involved from the beginning is what
really sparked many others to participate,” Culbertson
has said. “Once the cats found out he was producing
with me, they” said, ‘Where and when do I show
up?!’”
Those cats include Funkadelic alumnus Bootsy
Collins and PhelpsCollins, EWF members Larry Dunn and Larry
Graham, and horn players such as Gerald Albright, Ronnie
Laws, Maceo Parker and Tom Scott. Vocalists Ledisi and Musiq
Soulchild also give Culbertson an assist. Even cooler, the
whole thing was recorded live in the studio, giving the
music a groove that doesn’t emanate from many of today’s
pieced-together, superstar-laden recordings. Culbertson
also gets cred points because funky grooves have always
been an important part of his music, so this project seems
like an extension of his interest in funk and not a bandwagon
project.
Culbertson gets thing off to a fast start
with Bootsy Collins in tow on”Funkin’ like my
Father. The part is definitely started when Bootsy starts
his verbal riffing (‘Yabba Dabba Do!’) and it
never lets up for the length of the track. Other guests
include Ricky Peterson, Bernie Worrell, Sheldon Reynolds
all rocking the house, forcing Culbertson to rise to the
occasion to avoide becoming incidental on his own track.
He manages to assert himself fine, playing piano, clavinet,
Minimoog, and a killer trombone solo. “Always Remember”
features Culbertson’s acoustic piano out front of
an ensemble that includes Reynolds, Ray Parker Jr., Paul
Jackson Jr, Lenny Castro, Erick Marienthal, Tom Scott, and
Larry Dunn. There’s a nice vocal break as well that
can’t help but remind the listener of EWF’s
gorgeous vocal harmonies.
Kool and the Gang’s “Hollywood
Swinging” is up next, and Culbertson provides nice
piano fills while Musiqu Soulchild lays down a sharp vocal
and Gerald Albright guest solos. Albright has Cannonball
Adderley’s bright sound and plays a rousing solo that
is hot without being histrionic. “House of Music”
is up next. Co-written by Culbertson and Larry Graham, the
number also features Graham on bass. It’s solid number
with a gospel touch, and features Ronnie Laws on tenor sax.
Culbertson and crew manage to work up some sparks on this
track and demonstrate why this project is not just another
smooth jazz album.
Guest vocalist Howard Chance acquits himself
wonderfully on “You’ve Got To Funkifyze,”
doing his best James Brown and generally nudging the musicians
along their path, while Ledisi brings smooth sophistication
to the beautiful arrangement of the Bill Withers tune “The
World Kept Going Around,” one of the few ballads here.
Culbertson accompanies Ledisi’s vocals beautifully
and points out another great thing about Bringing Back the
Funk: although it’s Culbertson’s album the entire
ensemble gels so well and he shares space with other musicians
so admirably that one can easily forget that it’s
Culburtson’s album. This is not to say that Brian
can’t hold his own with this group, but rather that
he is a truly collaborative player who is more interested
in contributing to the groove than to putting the spotlight
on himself.
The bottom line is that Brian Culbertson
has himself a winner here, and album that is loads of fun
to listen to but still has plenty of stylistic attitude
and musical substance. Bringing Back the Funk will be a
great summer listen, and Culbertson’s subsequent tour
should also be a blast.
