It's On Tonight

Multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson is one of the brightest young stars in contemporary jazz. His GRP debut, It's On Tonight, features his fresh and sexy mix of pop, R&B, and urban grooves on a set of new tunes designed to accompany every stage of romance. Special guests include Will Downing, Boney James, Chris Botti, Patti Austin,and Kirk Whalum who lend their seductive charms to this quintessential make-out CD. 2005.

The phrase "It’s On Tonight," is a catch-word leading to nocturnal negotiations. On this, his seventh CD as a leader, the Illinois-born keyboardist Brian Culberston composed a 12-song "seduction suite," designed to inspire moonlight maneuvers--legal or illicit. His cohorts in carnal knowledge and crime include several vocalists: Will Downing's impassioned baritone imbues the zesty title track. The always awesome Patti Austin graces "Love Will Never Let You Down," and Marc Nelson lends his poetic pipes to the straightforward "Wear it Out." Saxophonists Boney James and Kirk Whalum lend their silken improvisations to the mix, along with the Milesian musings of trumpeter Chris Botti. Culbertson’s musicality obviously speaks the language of the radio-friendly smooth jazz variety, albeit laced with the influences of Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Tower of Power. In this idiom, the groove rules, and Culbertson and company ride them like pros. --Eugene Holley, Jr.