Inspiration strikes artists even when on holiday break. As
pianist Brian Culbertson strolled the frigid streets of Chicago last winter, he
felt compelled to write music. Feeling the cold air, seeing his breath and
hearing the crunch of snow under his feet spurred the creation of “Winter Stories,”
a contemplative collection of melodic musical “stories” recorded in a jazz trio
setting. The first “story” that will preface the BCM Entertainment release
dropping October 4 is “Morning Walk,” which went for playlist adds on Monday.
When
Culbertson returned from that inspired walk, he started composing the first
piece for the album that, over time, will become a four-album series: separate
stories for each season. He wrote and demoed one song per day for ten
consecutive days. After each day’s session, he’d head back into the cold,
taking the demo out for a walk. Upon his return, he’d make adjustments to the
composition until “it was just right.”
Best known
for crafting a catalogue of R&B, jazz and funk hits, Culbertson felt that
this pensive and introspective album would best be presented by a jazz trio.
Knowing that drummer Khari Parker has a deft touch with brushes to craft the
gentle rhythms, Culbertson had only one acoustic bassist in mind: Steve Rodby
(Pat Metheny Group). They knew each other from the Chicago jingle scene at the
beginning of Culbertson’s professional career and Rodby played on a track on
the keyboardist’s second album, “Modern Life” (1995).
“Understanding
Steve’s jazz/pop sensibilities and knowing how musical and ‘in tune’ he plays
upright bass, I knew that he was the only one who could play on this record,”
said Culbertson.
Culbertson
describes “Winter Stories” not as a Christmas album, but as a hybrid. “It is
very melodic with a pop structure, but utilizing traditional straight-ahead
jazz elements - acoustic piano, upright bass and drums with brushes – which
give it a ‘holiday’ feel, but also something you can listen to any time since
these are all new original songs. However, what was unusual is that the three
of us didn’t record together. I produced the album using a layered approach,
which also makes it more of a pop-styled record, replacing each demo track one
at a time. I first recorded piano, then layered Wurlitzer, Rhodes and B3 organ
parts sparsely to add depth here and there. After that was drums and then bass
was last. A couple tracks also called for percussion, which was played by Lenny
Castro.”
While
writing his “Winter Stories” - the inspiration for all ten stories is shared in
the accompanying liner notes, which is another first for Culbertson – he
spotted a painting online that he felt perfectly encapsulated the album’s
motif. So, he bought the painting and made it the album cover.
“It was
exactly what was in my mind. I wanted it to be like an intriguing book cover,
the kind that after you look at it, you get a sense of what the music is like
and then compels you to want to listen,” said Culbertson, who curates, hosts
and headlines his second annual Chicago Jazz Getaway running this Thursday
through Sunday, a spinoff of his wildly popular Napa Valley Jazz Getaway.
A second
single from “Winter Stories” is planned for just prior to the holiday season.
Going for adds on November 18, “City Sleigh Ride” is one of the album’s more up-tempo
and fun adventures, and the only song with sleigh bells. “While most of the
album is on the slower, more ruminative side of things, it was important for me
to break up the feel a little bit with a couple tracks,” said Culbertson.
After a
recent YouTube Premiere with fans, the video for the album opener, “Sitting By
The Fire,” is now available for viewing
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkuG5bxnQgc). “I’d say the best time to listen
to this record is when it’s the coldest and bleakest outside,” said Culbertson.
“These songs will warm you up and keep you cozy.”
“Winter
Stories” contains the following songs:
“Sitting By
The Fire”
“Montana
Skies”
“Morning
Walk”
“Flurries”
“City Sleigh
Ride”
“Waltz For
M”
“Island
Dream”
“Northern
Lights”
“Frosted
Window”
“Starry
Night”
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