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Brian Culbertson VibeZ

Twenty-six tracks from a Midwestern pianist and trombonist who has built one of the most durable careers in contemporary instrumental soul.

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Brian Culbertson

Brian Culbertson is an unusually complete musician for the smooth-jazz field: he plays piano, keyboards, trombone and bass, arranges his own records, and produces them. He grew up in Illinois in a musical household and released his first album while still at university.

What separates his catalogue from the genre's reputation is that the funk in it is real. The rhythm sections on his records swing properly, the horn arrangements are written rather than sketched, and he has consistently hired first-rate players rather than relying on programming.

He is also a skilled collaborator with singers, which is where a good deal of this playlist lives. Giving a vocalist an instrumental musician's arrangement produces something different from a standard R&B production — more room, more harmonic movement, less compression.

What to listen for

"Don't Go" is the track most people find first and the best introduction — a slow, minor-key groove with the melody carried on Fender Rhodes.

"No Limits" with Stokley Williams of Mint Condition is the best vocal track here, and Stokley is one of the most underrated singers of his generation.

"You're My Music" and "The Truth" with Noel Gourdin are the other standout collaborations.

"The Secret Garden" and "Colors of Love" are the most ambitious arrangements, and both show what he can do with strings.

"If Only For One Night" with Dave Koz is the Luther Vandross reading, and "Let's Chill" is the Guy cover, which is a bolder choice than it appears.

"Love Will Never Let You Down" with Patti Austin and Kirk Whalum is the most star-studded thing here, and "Still Here" with Vivian Green is the most soulful.

"Michelle's Theme", "By Candlelight" and "In Your Embrace" are the instrumental deep cuts, and "Skies Wide Open" with Avant is the R&B crossover.

Go deeper

Bringing Back the Funk (2008) is the album that best makes the case for him, recorded with Maurice White and Bootsy Collins among others. Colors of Love (2018) is the most romantic.

For the wider field: Boney James, Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber and Mint Condition, whose records are the closest thing to a band version of this sound.

Listening note: the rhythm sections are the argument against the genre's reputation. These records swing — the drums are played, the bass moves, the horn parts are written out rather than sketched — and that is why the funk material holds up next to records nobody would file as smooth jazz. Follow the band rather than the melody.

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