It's On Tonight (2005)

Product Summary UPC: 00602498813607 Release Date: 7/26/2005 Buy.com Sku: 63982510 Item#: M2DL2D Buy.com Sales Rank: 25050 Format:  CD Song Listing Disc 1 Song Title Sample 1. Let's Get Started ~ Brian Culbertson 2. Hookin' Up ~ Brian Culbertson 3. It's on Tonight - (with Will Downing) ~ Brian Culbertson 4. Sensuality ~ Brian Culbertson 5. Way You Feel, The - (with Boney James) ~ Brian Culbertson 6. Forbidden Love ~ Brian Culbertson 7. Dreaming Of You ~ Brian Culbertson 8. Wear It Out ~ Brian Culbertson 9. Secret Affair - (with Chris Botti) ~ Brian Culbertson 10. Touch Me ~ Brian Culbertson 11. Love Will Never Let You Down - (with Patti Austin/Kirk Whalum) ~ Brian Culbertson 12. Reflections ~ Brian Culbertson (P) 2005 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (C) 2005 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.   Album Notes and Credits Notes & Personnel Info Personnel: Brian Culbertson (trumpet, trombone, piano, keyboards, bass synthesizer, percussion, drum programming, background vocals); Brian Culbertson; Michelle Culbertson (vocals, violin); Ledisi (vocals); Tony Maiden (guitar, wah-wah guitar); Jorge Evans (guitar); Michael Thompson, J. Michael Thompson (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Tim Stewart (electric guitar, nylon-string guitar); Ricky Peterson (Hammond b-3 organ); Stephen Lu (keyboards, bass synthesizer, drum programming); Stephen Lu (keyboards, programming); Marcus Miller, Alex Al (bass instrument); Marc Nelson, Patti Austin (vocals, background vocals); Will Downing (vocals); Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar, electric guitar); Micah Otano (acoustic guitar); Kirk Whalum, Eric Darius, Boney James (tenor saxophone); Chris Botti (trumpet); Greg Phillinganes (Fender Rhodes piano). Audio Mixer: Peter Mokran. Recording information: BCM Studios. Photographer: Lisa Peardon. Arrangers: Brian Culbertson; Stephen Lu. Many smooth jazz artists are leading double lives. On-stage, they conduct themselves like real improvisers; they stretch out, they blow, and they savor the joys of interacting with real musicians in real time. But their studio recordings are another matter. In the studio, they go out of their way to avoid the slightest hints of spontaneity and carefully avoid doing anything that might jeopardize their exposure on NAC/smooth jazz radio stations. Clearly, the play-for-radio approach prevails on this 2005 release, which has "commercial NAC radio" written all over it. Pianist/keyboardist Brian Culbertson (who also plays trumpet, trombone, and percussion) is by no means a bad musician; he definitely has chops, and he has the potential to provide a killer soul-jazz album in the tradition of Gene Harris and Joe Sample (two of his influences). But It's On Tonight, like much of Culbertson's work, favors a very innocuous, totally predictable blend of jazz, R&B, and pop. The material is pleasant background music -- nothing horrible, but far from an adequate reflection of Culbertson's skills as an improviser. Singer Patti Austin has a likable spot on the urban/adult contemporary item "Love Will Never Let You Down" (one of the few vocal offerings on a mostly instrumental CD), and trumpeter Chris Botti's appearance on "Secret Affair" gives that track a bit of Miles Davis-influenced mystery. Botti, for all his commercialism, has more integrity than most people in the smooth jazz/NAC field (which isn't saying much given how appallingly low the genre's standards have generally been since the '80s -- at least when it comes to studio recordings). It's On Tonight does have its moments, but Culbertson is capable of much more. ~ Alex Henderson With its seething, laid-back funk beats and steamy lyrics full of obvious references to romantic trysts, it doesn't get any sexier than Brian Culbertson's IT'S ON TONIGHT. A number of prominent crossover jazz artist lend their talents here. For example, the downtempo title track features a sensual R&B vocal from singer Will Downing. Later, saxophonist Boney James' mellifluous lines become the focus of "The Way You Feel." On "Secret Affair," relative newcomer Chris Botti plays Miles Davis-influenced riffs over a spacious one-chord vamp (and his use of a Harmon mute creates that smoky, late-night effect). Kirk Whalum's silky tenor saxophone beautifully complements Patti Austin's soulful voice on "Love Will Never Let You Down," a seductive ballad about love's resilience. Instrumental tracks such as "Sensuality" and "Touch Me" combine relaxing atmospherics with deep-pocketed grooves. Through it all, Culbertson's smooth keys and horn lines (he plays both trumpet and trombone) shimmer and shine. Producer: Brian Culbertson; Stephen Lu; Scott Steiner; Brian Culbertson; Stephen Lu Engineer: Brian Culbertson; Stephen Lu; Micah Otano; Scott Steiner Musical Guests Will Downing Boney James Chris Botti Patti Austin Kirk Whalum Marcus Miller Greg Phillinganes Ricky Peterson   Compilation Appearances Golden Slumbers A Father's Lullaby All That Smooth Jazz Wjjz Vol 13 Smooth Jazz Wsjt Smooth Jazz Vol 9 Between 2 Worlds   Technical Info Release Date : 07/26/2005 Original Release Date : 2005 Catalog ID : 4535 Label : GRP Records (USA) Number of Discs : 1 Studio/Live : Studio Mono/Stereo : Stereo SPAR Code : n/a UPC : 00602498813607    Product Image