Brian Culbertson

Top Lyrics By
Brian Culbertson

Brian Culbertson "XII" album

- Release date : July 2010 -

XII is the twelfth studio album by US musician and instrumentalist, Brian Culbertson, released on July 20, 2010 through GRP Records.

"XII" album tracks and lyrics

"XII" album reviews

Given the widespread critical acclaim and commercial success Brian Culbertson garnered from 2008's retro Bringing Back the Funk, it would be understandably tempting for him -- or any musician -- to revisit it wholesale. However, Culbertson throws a changeup on XII and comes up with a set of collaborative originals with stellar guests that relies more on modern adult R&B than funk, and more on sophisticated pop than it does on contemporary jazz. He's got real star power on this set; it's a groover that includes everything from club to go-go funk, up- and midtempo R&B, and polished bedroom ballads, and it all holds together seamlessly. The set opens with "Feelin' It," which features some comedy from Sinbad in the intro and outro, but more importantly, Chuck Brown's vocals are the centerpiece -- Culbertson's piano line quotes liberally from Brown's classic "Bustin' Loose" (he gets a co-write). Ray Parker, Jr.'s guitar and Alex Al's bassline turn it into a monster. Next up is a soulful stepper in "Another Love," with vocals by Kenny Lattimore. Club makes another appearance in "Out on the Floor," with Brian McKnight laying down his brand of smooth groove above a killer string arrangement and a lockstep funky backbeat. Nu-soul balladeer Avant sings on the hit single "Skies Wide Open"; with Randy Bowland's guitar playing an excellent counterpoint to his vocal, it is among the standout cuts here. Faith Evans fronts Culbertson's band on "Don't U Know Me by Now," a midtempo attitude strutter. Parker makes a fine yet minimal vocal appearance on the simmering babymaker "I Wanna Love You," compensated for by killer guitar work and the spoken word bit from Floetry's Natalie Stewart on set closer "I Don't Know." Of the four instrumental tracks, the most notable are "It's Time" and the transcendently joyful contemporary jazz number "That's Life," co-written by Culbertson, Parker, and Earl Klugh, who also plays on it. While nothing on XII breaks new ground, one suspects that this wasn't Culbertson's intention: he was looking to write and record an album that had "quality" stamped all over it. For its diversity, imagination, and execution, he gets high marks: XII stands among his best.

*** by Thom Jurek, All Music Guide ***

It must be liberating to be classified as a smooth or contemporary jazz artist these days. One the one hand, you have some artists making straight up early to mid 1970s style jazz/funk/rock fusion records. On the other hand, artists like Brian Culbertson move with audacity toward funk and R&B and even Go-Go music. That's the move that Culbertson makes on his 12th studio album - appropriately titled XII.

The 12 tracks on this album have an even split between instrumental contemporary jazz and R&B and funk tunes complete with vocals by some big name vocalists from the past and present. Culbertson recruited Go-Go king Chuck Brown to lend vocals to the bouncy jam "Feelin' It." Other guest vocalists include Kenny Lattimore, Brian McKnight, Avant, Faith Evans and Ray Parker, Jr.

Those R&B vocals give XII a level of variety and flow that might have been lacking if the album consisted solely of contemporary jazz instrumentals. Lattimore's contribution, "Another Love," sets a relaxing mid-tempo pace that bridges the verses with a catchy hook. McKnight steps out of his loverman balladeer persona on the stepper's anthem "Out on the Floor." Avant's vocals sail like a kite on the love song "Skies Wide Open." And Faith Evans steals the show on the soulful anthem, "Don't U Know Me By Now," in which she implores her needy lover to stop asking what's wrong and read the signs.

To his credit, Culbertson appears to be energized when sharing the stage with these singers. Another positive is that Culbertson interspersed the instrumental selections so that they provide a change of pace to the vocals. The vocals selections are clearly XII's strong point, and it's good that those numbers are mixed in with the instrumentals because the vocal numbers prevent the groove from becoming a rut. I think Culbertson's heart is really with funk and R&B, and XII would have been stronger if it had leaned to 60-40 or even 7-30 to that side. Culbertson decides to provide a little something for all of his adult contemporary listeners. He'll jam and let his listeners decide. Recommended.

*** by Howard Dukes, Soul Tracks ***