Celebrating a score of years making jazz that’s smooth , as opposed to “smooth” jazz, Brian Culbertson brought his rhythmic and bluesy band to Yoshi’s for a good time that was hip and hep. This two disc set has Culbertson with his snapping team of Marqueal Jordan/ts-perc-voc, Eddie Miller/key, Michael Stever/key-tp, Adam Hawley/g, Rodney Jones Jr/b and CHirs Miskel/dr along with some extra horn muscle with Doug Beavers/tb and Doug Rowan/bs. You simply can’t resist the infectious joy that these guys deliver as they also show their chops on upbeat tunes like “Always Remember” and “Skies Wide Open.” Culbertson himself is in great voice, and handles the piano with swing and style, while the rhythm team-WHOA! THE RHYTHM TEAM! They know how to funkafize! They pull down a smoking take of “Hollywood Swinging” and get down to business on “Funkin’ Like My Father.” Culbertson and company make Quincy Jones’ “Secret Garden” sound like they own it and the Maurice White penned “Serpentine Fire” shows that white guys CAN jump!
It’s contemporary, adult and music-wasn’t THAT a category way back when?