New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Brian Culbertson Official Website) This summer, prolific R&B/Jazz musician
Brian Culbertson invites you to close your eyes, open your ears, and fall deep into a lush world of musical fantasy with his breathtaking thirteenth album Dreams (Verve/Universal). With the help of lauded guest vocalists Vivian Green,
Noel Gourdin and Stokley Williams of Mint Condition, Dreams masterfully melds jazz sensibility with an R&B flair in a wondrous mélange of enchanting grooves.
The result is a stunning collection of 10 mesmerizing tunes, including the poignant lead single "
Still Here" -- featuring the soulful rapture of Vivian Green, telling the passionate tale of how taking a risk on love can have a happy ending. "Your Smile," the album's lead jazz single, is an exquisite rhythmic excursion underscored with an undeniable buoyant groove. Brian recruited the R&B vocal prowess of singer Stokley Williams to enhance the melodic elegance of "No Limits," whose romantic lyrics accentuate the thrill of actualizing an altruistic union. On "You're My Music," Boston-based singer
Noel Gourdin pours his thick, soulful vocals over both Brian's shimmering piano chords and bass guitar licks.
Dreams was arranged by esteemed R&B producer and longtime collaborator Rex Rideout (Angie Stone, Ledisi, Luther Vandross, Lalah Hathaway, Will Downing, Kem) while also calling on four of R&B's top session players to help round out the sound: bassist Alex Al (Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder,
Quincy Jones) and guitarists Michael Thompson (Babyface, Toni Braxton), Rob Bacon (Beyoncé,
Raphael Saadiq), and John "Jubu" Smith (Frankie Beverly & Maze, Whitney Houston).
Today Brian releases his 4-track EP Dreams featuring several of the album's stellar tracks, "Your Smile," "Later Tonight," "
Still Here" f/
Vivian Green and "
No Limits" f/ Stokley Williams. The EP serves as a delectable audio appetizer for Brian's full length album due out this Summer 2012.
With the concept of dreams, Brian felt enraptured in a vivid sequence of thoughts, images, and sensations -- a lifelike realm where radiant colors, sounds, and illusions intersect, creating the most vibrant experience.
"Last summer, I just started having these really vivid dreams, I was waking up inspired to get into the studio and write songs. Songs that made me feel like those dreams. On this whole record, I really concentrated on piano melodies that were really catchy and emotional. Melodies that tried to take you somewhere. On a little musical journey, if you will."
Having worked with an array of stellar R&B artists such as Faith Evans, Ledisi, Brian McKnight, Kenny Lattimore,
Musiq Soulchild and
Avant on his past albums -- in total, Brian has produced or performed on over 25 No. 1 records, topping the Billboard Charts, regularly appearing as the opening act for Barry Manilow, lauded by Prince, and received six
Oasis Jazz Awards.
Upcoming events and tours include the already sold-out Brian Culbertson's Napa Valley Jazz Getaway, taking place between June 7-10th. Celebrating the finest in wine, food, art, and music in the heart of California's rich viticultural Napa valley, guests of the festival will be entertained by Brian and a host of special guests and fellow recording artists including comedian Sinbad, pianist
David Benoit, saxophonists
Eric Marienthal and Eric Darius, and vocalists
Kenny Lattimore and Oleta Adams. Brian will also head out on tour with legendary jazz saxophonist
David Sanborn during a 30-date stop appropriately titled The
Dream Tour which will take place at an array of venues including wineries, cruises, casinos and festivals between June 17th and
September 22nd.
2012 is certain to be a pivotal turning point in Brian's illustrious career. Dreams holds the key to a new dimension of the jazz listening experience by effortlessly combining elements of R&B and soul with spellbinding melodies and the marvel of inner visions. With Dreams, as with his previous efforts, Brian proceeds to keep the genre of jazz alive and viable by consistently injecting a fresh approach into his own unique sensibility. Dreams definitely proves that jazz and groove fit hand-in-glove.
"He taps a funk dream team for old school sounds that nod to P-Funk, Kool & the Gang and Earth Wind & Fire." People Magazine
"Culbertson's bread and butter are his instrumentals, and they're excellent." Jazz Times
"Anyone with a prescient ear might have predicted that his sensuous lightly grooving and highly melodic style would work well in the format, but 13 years, eight hit albums and some 20 No. 1
Radio & Records airplay singles later,
Brian Culbertson has also emerged as one of the genres most riveting live acts."
Music Connection
"The sweet and sultry tracks off the album are purposely designed to be a kind of auditory aphrodisiac." NPR
"He didn't disappoint, from start to finish you rode on Brian's keyboard to his magical musical wonderland whether he stood in front or behind the keyboard and played." Smooth Jazz Magazine
"Brian Culbertson is funny, adventurous and a great musician. He loves people and he loves music." Ledisi.
