Many of those on board the 2006 Smooth Jazz Cruise (SJC) hosted by Warren Hill would have admitted that Brian Culbertson was at the top of their list of ‘must see’ artists. Having witnessed his performances it’s not difficult to understand why. He is quite simply a phenomenon. While most artists use live sets to showcase their most recent or most memorable releases Culbertson does something altogether different. He typified this with his two main stage solo shows where he fused together tracks from CD’s past and present into a unique entertainment experience that will live in the memory of all who were there.
Of course before Culbertson was a live performer his music was strictly a studio creation. Consequently the transition he has made since those early years is all the more remarkable. His writing pedigree within smooth jazz is unparalleled and his keyboard skills are amazing yet he has found the space and the creativity to become the best live act on the circuit today. However, even Culbertson can’t do all this alone and the prowess of his regular touring band is referenced in the review of Culbertson’s 2005 show at Kimball’s East. (See Concert Reviews). This time he was teamed with one of the two SJC ‘house bands’, Ron Reinhardt on keys, Nate Phillips holding it down on bass, Dwight Sills with guitar and Rayford Griffin playing drums. They gelled perfectly and the full luscious horn sound that is the trademark of some of his best work was provided courtesy of The Harris Brothers and Culbertson’s own sax player, the sensational Eric Darius. His set also featured guest appearances by Paul Jackson Jr. and Wayman Tisdale and, Culbertson being Culbertson, he seized every opportunity to play trombone too.
Making a sixty minute show seem like only ten he moved through ‘Say What’ from the ‘Come On Up’ CD and ‘Back In The Day’ from ‘Somethin Bout Love’ to choice selections from the current ‘Its On Tonight’ that included ‘Hookin Up’, ‘Lets Get Started’ and ‘Forbidden Love’. Brian even found time to include his wedding song, ‘Our Love,’ also from ‘Come On Up’, but a feature of his whole performance was the way he merged one tune into the next with transitions that, at the same time, seemed both familiar and fresh.
Equally notable was the generosity that Culbertson displayed throughout the entire week. Whether adding depth to the horn section of The Harris Brothers by impromptu appearances on trombone, or jamming late into the night with both headline and support artists, his contribution was huge. When Eric Darius got to play his own set in a venue, that incidentally was woefully inadequate both for the size of the audience and the magnitude of his talent, Culbertson was there to selflessly support him on piano and when, together with Bobby Lyle, he participated in an afternoon Q and A for their fans, he took time out to entertain them on keyboards.
There are many elements that go to produce a true superstar and, on the 2006 SJC hosted by Warren Hill, Brian Culbertson was there to demonstrate he has every one of them.
Photographs that accompany this review come courtesy of Rob Yarmo.