They met for the first time when they were music majors at
DePaul University. Flash forward, Michelle and Brian Culbertson celebrated
their twentieth wedding anniversary last month. With love, romance and his wife
serving as his motivation, the soulful contemporary jazz hit-maker started
writing material earlier this year inspired by the occasion, crafting thirteen
new songs that will be released as “Colors of Love,” his eighteenth album, on
Valentine’s Day on the BCM Entertainment label. The seduction begins early next
month when the amorous title track, a sensual R&B groove illuminated by
Culbertson’s lyrical acoustic piano melodies typical of the collection’s
contents, ships to radio. A nearly three-month-long U.S. concert tour will
bring “Colors of Love” to life in a vivid theatrical production with the
itinerary being revealed December 1.
Culbertson
is thriving creatively on this, his third independent album funded by an
Indiegogo campaign (http://bit.ly/2wr3kt9), which closes this Thursday and
offers unique opportunities and exclusive perks including a bonus track. Having
spent the majority of his career on a major label, the freedom to follow his
creative muse is readily apparent on “Colors of Love,” a complete contrast to
last year’s “Funk!” set, which was a lively, full-band funk/R&B workout
that features a number of vocal cuts. He describes “Colors of Love” as
“purposely electronic, using very modern sounds and production” with his
acoustic piano serving as the singular lead voice throughout the intimate date.
The quiet and contemplative tracks are textured atmospherics and gentle R&B
grooves - soothing beds for Culbertson’s melodic piano expressions of ardor.
Sharing the
recording process via Facebook live, Culbertson polled his audience and they
voted that “Colors of Love” be instrumental only. He took it a step further and
for the first time in his career that to date has racked up 30 No. 1 Billboard
singles as an artist, producer and/or songwriter, he refrained from using
saxophone or guitar as lead instruments - only his poetic piano.
“The music
on ‘Colors of Love’ explores all aspects of what love is. It’s a deep word that
says a lot of things. There’s passionate love, love at first sight, longing
love, lost love. Each color represents a different type of love. There are
heart-wrenching songs, cuddly love - all kinds of different love songs,” said
Culbertson, who played all of the instruments on the new record except for
rhythm guitar (Isaiah Sharkey) and accordion (Peter White).
“I’ve been
playing ‘Through the Years’ from the new album in my set since the Berks Jazz
Fest last April. The response has been very emotional. Clearly this music
touches a nerve – or the heart to be more exact.”
Culbertson
is already at work on how he will present “Colors of Love” live during the U.S.
concert trek that runs March 28 through June 17 with tickets going on sale
December 8. He’s planning to incorporate a video element in a major way.
“It’s going
to be a very theatrical presentation with video images and lighting timed to
the music. This music is visual and cinematic thus the show needs to be visual
to complement the experience. It’s going to be larger than life when you see it
live.”
“Colors of
Love” contains the following songs:
“Love
Transcended”
“I Want You”
“Colors of
Love”
“Don’t Go”
“You’re
Magic”
“Through the
Years”
“In A Dream”
“Let’s
Chill”
“Desire”
“Michelle’s
Theme”
“In Your
Embrace”
“The Look”
“All My
Heart”
A bonus
track will be available exclusively for Indiegogo supporters.
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