JAZZ

Friday, December 4, 2009 8:00PM

Contemporary jazz musician Brian Culbertson brings his “Soulful Christmas” tour to New York City! Join us at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill for an evening of uplifting and soulful performances of holiday music. Brian Culbertson is a keyboardist, trombonist, writer, producer, arranger and one of the most exciting live performing instrumentalists on the scene today. Brian works with many other musicians in the smooth jazz arena, often as a composer and arranger. He has worked with artists such as Dave Koz, Peter White, Richard Elliot, Jeff Lorber, Barry Manilow, and legendary A&M Records composer and producer, Herb Alpert just to name a few.

For this very special holiday show, Brian will be joined on stage by jazz saxophonist Michael Lington. With his debonair looks, charm, and charisma to burn, Michael defines the contemporary jazz experience. Since the late 90s, he has scored hit after Top Ten hit while seducing fans with passionate performances that turn sax into a celebration of love and life. Get your tickets today and celebrate the coming of the holiday season with Smooth Jazz New York!

BRIAN CULBERTSON
Talented composer/arranger/keyboardist/trombonist Brian Culbertson’s music has maturity that is, at times, beyond his years, and Culbertson credits his dad with helping him develop an ear for the type of music he makes. His father, Jim Culbertson, a respected high school jazz band director and trumpeter, cultivated a love of sanguine sounds for a young Brian, who eagerly listened to anything his dad listened to. Their Decatur, IL, home would be alive with the recorded sounds of Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, the Brecker Brothers, and David Sanborn. Growing up, Culbertson also listened to ‘70s R&B/pop/funk bands like Blood, Sweat & Tears, Tower of Power, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Culbertson began his musical training at the age of 8 with piano lessons; at 9 he moved to drums, at 10 trombone, and at 12 bass. Bored with classical recital pieces, he began composing in junior high. By his freshman year in high school, he was experimenting with the then-new Yamaha DX-7 synthesizer and an old four-track recorder in the basement of his parents’ home. His dedication earned him six individual and five group Down Beat student awards.

During his high-school years, he started getting into MIDI sequencing and synthesizers. He couldn’t find players who were able to play his songs on the level he wanted as most of his peers were into heavy metal. So Culbertson, who cites pop producer/songwriter David Foster (Earth, Wind & Fire’s “After the Love Is Gone”) as one of his strongest influences, learned how to play all the parts himself. After graduation, Culbertson headed to Chicago to begin studies in the music program at DePaul University. On campus, he began to run into high-level musicians and started playing in a band. A family friend helped Culbertson get a deal with Mesa/Blue Moon in 1994. In the bedroom of the apartment he shared with three college buddies, Culbertson single-handedly recorded his debut album, Long Night Out . The album spent ten consecutive weeks in the Top Five of the adult contemporary charts. On his follow-up album, Modern Life , Culbertson eschewed the one-man band approach in favor of a live band made up of some of the best musicians in Chicago, plus stellar saxophonist Gerald Albright. He’s since put out several other albums, including After Hours (1995), Secrets (1997), and Somethin’ Bout Love (1999). Culbertson’s productions include albums by Bob Mamet and Steve Cole. Having gotten into composing advertising jingles, Culbertson has set his sights on soundtracks. In 2001 the he released Nice & Slow , followed by Come On Up in 2003. Two years later he issued It’s on Tonight, and in 2006 Soulful Christmas , a collection of holiday favorites as well as an original. Just last year, Brian came back onto the scene with his most recent work on Bringing Back The Funk .

MICHAEL LINGTON
A native of Denmark, saxophonist Michael Lington is a purveyor of contemporary jazz. The grandson of well-known Danish band leader Otto Lington — an early proponent of jazz in Scandinavia — Lington began performing at a young age as a member of the world-renowned Tivoli Boys Guard. His involvement with the prestigious orchestra earned him a musical education which he later pursued at college. After finishing his degree, he ran his own recording studio while touring throughout Europe. Lington moved to Los Angeles in 1990, where — with the assistance of musician/producer Mark Schulman — he became heavily involved with the contemporary jazz scene, soon performing regularly with vocalist Bobby Caldwell. His self-titled debut album was released on NuGroove Records back in 1997. Since then, Michael has continuously graced us with great jazz albums such as Vivid , Everything Must Change , Heat , A Song For You , and his most recent Stay With Me .