A SOULFUL CHRISTMAS
Released on October 30, 2006
Brian's Christmas CD full of holiday classics re-imagined by Brian in the studio with a full orchestra, big band, gospel choir, live rhythm section, horn section plus a new original song featuring Michael McDonald and a classic featuring Brian's wife, Michelle Culbertson, on vocals. Peter White, Eric Darius and Warren Hill are also featured on this must have CD for the holidays!
Track Listing:
1. Intro - Joy To The World
2. Joy To The World feat. Eric Darius & The Jason White Choir
3. Deck The Halls feat. Warren Hill
4. Jingle Bells
5. The First Noel
6. All Through The Christmas Night feat. Michael McDonald
7. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
8. Angels We Have Heard On High feat. Peter White
9. Some Children See Him feat. Michelle Culbertson
10. Little Drummer Boy
11. This Christmas
12. Silent Night feat. Marc Nelson
*Full album credits below
Brian's first "A Soulful Christmas" Tour which featured Bobby Caldwell, Warren Hill, Ray Parker Jr. and Eric Darius.
Album Credits:
1. “Intro”
Robert Schaer - trumpet & piccolo trumpet
Michael Stever - trumpet
Jennifer Kessler - French horn
Martin Sullivan - trombone
Zach Collins - tuba
2. “Joy To The World” (feat. Eric Darius)
(Arranged by Brian Culbertson, Maurice Fitzgerald & Eddie Miller)
Brian Culbertson - piano and trombone
Eric Darius - tenor sax solo
Eric Marienthal - alto and tenor saxophones
Wayne Bergeron - trumpet
Michael Stever - trumpet
Paul Jackson, Jr. - guitar
Tony Maiden - wah guitar
Eddie Miller - Fender Rhodes
Ricky Peterson - Hammond B3 organ
Maurice Fitzgerald - bass
Oscar Seaton, Jr. - drums
Lenny Castro - percussion
Choir: The Jason White Ensemble
Orchestra: see credits below
3. “Deck The Halls” (feat. Warren Hill)
(Arranged by Brian Culbertson & Dave Koz)
Brian Culbertson - piano, celeste and bells
Warren Hill - alto saxophone
Bruce Watson - slide guitar
Nathan East - bass
Oscar Seaton, Jr. - drums
Lenny Castro - percussion
Orchestra: see credits below
4. “Jingle Bells”
(Arranged by Brian Culbertson)
Brian Culbertson - piano and trombone
Eric Marienthal - alto, tenor and bari saxophones
Wayne Bergeron - trumpet
Tony Maiden - guitar
Ricky Peterson - Hammond B3 organ
Alex Al - electric bass
Brian Bromberg - acoustic bass
Oscar Seaton, Jr. - funky drums
Vinnie Colaiuta - swing drums
Lenny Castro - percussion
Matt Harris - “Big Band” arrangement
5. “The First Noel”
(Arranged by Brian Culbertson)
Brian Culbertson - piano
Orchestra: see credits below
6. "All Through The Christmas Night" (feat. Michael McDonald)
(written by Brian Culbertson & Marc Nelson)
Brian Culbertson - piano and trombone
Michael McDonald - vocals
Eric Marienthal - tenor and bari saxophones
Wayne Bergeron - trumpet
Paul Jackson, Jr. - guitar
Ricky Peterson - Hammond B3 organ
Maurice Fitzgerald - bass
Oscar Seaton, Jr. - drums
Lenny Castro - percussion
Choir: The Jason White Ensemble
"All Through The Christmas Night" lyrics:
Another Winter's come
It's so hard this time of year
Heaven knows I pray
oh for better days
I'm two seconds from shedding tears
But you seem to know what to do
as I walk thru the door
so I don't feel pain anymore
Christmas means nothing at all
unless love hears when you call
You're always there
on Christmas day
Holding me tight
All through the Christmas night
I wonder if I'm doin' right
supporting my family
bein' the man I'm supposed to be
but nothing seems to be going right (oh no)
when you feel your world is pressing down on you tight
But you seem to know what to do
as I walk thru the door
so I don't feel pain anymore
Christmas means nothing at all
unless love hears when you call
Always be there
on Christmas day
Holding me tight
All through the Christmas night
Nothing like knowing there's someone there to support you
This time of year
and giving up will never cross your mind
on Christmas night
7. “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer“
(Arranged by Brian Culbertson & Jeff Lorber)
Brian Culbertson - piano and trombone
Jorge Evans - guitar solo, guitar on left and wah guitar on left
Jeff Lorber - Wurlitzer and guitar up the middle
Tony Maiden - wah guitar on the right
Eric Marienthal - alto, tenor and bari saxophones
Wayne Bergeron - trumpet
Ricky Peterson - Hammond B3 organ
Derrick Hodge - bass
Oscar Seaton, Jr. - drums
Lenny Castro - percussion
8. “Angels We Have Heard On High” (feat. Peter White)
(Arranged by Brian Culbertson & Peter White)
Brian Culbertson - piano and bells
Peter White - acoustic guitar
Jorge Evans - electric guitar
Nathan East - bass
Oscar Seaton, Jr. - drums
Lenny Castro - percussion
9. “Some Children See Him” (feat. Michelle Culbertson)
(Arranged by Brian Culbertson & Michelle Culbertson)
Brian Culbertson - piano
Michelle Culbertson - vocals
Orchestra: see credits below
10. “Little Drummer Boy”
(Arranged by Brian Culbertson)
Brian Culbertson - piano
Brian Bromberg - acoustic bass
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
Lenny Castro - percussion
11. “This Christmas”
(Arranged by Brian Culbertson)
Brian Culbertson - piano, trombone and muted trumpet
Eric Marienthal - tenor saxophone
Wayne Bergeron - trumpet
Paul Jackson, Jr. - guitar
Eddie Miller - Fender Rhodes
Ricky Peterson - Hammond B3 organ
Derrick Hodge - bass
Oscar Seaton, Jr. - drums
Lenny Castro - percussion
12. “Silent Night” (feat. Marc Nelson)
(Arranged by Brian Culbertson & Marc Nelson)
Brian Culbertson - piano
Marc Nelson - vocals
Orchestra credits:
All orchestrations and arrangements by Cliff Colnot.
Violins: Peter Labella (concertmaster), Matthew Albert, Ying Chai, Baird Dodge, Teresa Fream, Tom Hall, Carmen Kassinger, Nancy Park, Paul Phillips, Ron Satkowitz, Rika Seko and Robert Waters.
Celli: Dan Klingler, Nicholas Photinos and Gary Stucka
Bass: Collins Trier
Oboe: Jelena Dirks
French Horn: Dave Griffin
Harp: Alison Attar
Contractor: Jennifer Pedraza
Copyist: Thomas Schaller
The Jason White Ensemble:
Choir arranged and directed by Jason White.
Choir members: Keith Allen, Brittany Batson, Troy Clark, David Daughtry, LaShanda Dendy, Chara Hammonds, Demeka Jackson, Shanika Leeks, Sharon Norwood, Melody Rhynes, Precious Umunna, Geneen White, Otha White and Brandon Winbush.
Jingle Bells Party:
Party goers: Jorge Evans, Billy Valentine, Michelle Culbertson, Scott Steiner, Mikko Locke, Michael Stever, Andrea Morgan, Brian Culbertson and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
Produced by Brian Culbertson for BCM Entertainment, Inc.
All piano tracks and trombone solos co-produced and engineered by Scott Steiner. All rhythm section arrangements by Brian Culbertson. Horn section arrangements by Brian Culbertson and Eric Marienthal. Big Band arrangement on “Jingle Bells” by Matt Harris. Vocal arrangement on “Silent Night” by Marc Nelson. Orchestra arrangements by Cliff Colnot. Choir arrangements by Jason White.
Mixed by Scott Steiner and Brian Culbertson at BCM Studios, Los Angeles, CA, assisted by Michael Stever.
Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA.
