Bringing Back the Funk

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox album|

| name = Bringing Back the Funk

| type = Studio

| artist = Brian Culbertson

| cover = Bringing Back the Funk.jpg

| alt =

| released = April 29, 2008

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Funk, smooth jazz

| length =

| label = GRP Records

| producer = Maurice White

| prev_title = A Soulful Christmas

| prev_year = 2006

| next_title = XII

| next_year = 2010

}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bringing-back-the-funk-mw0000784821|title=Brian Culbertson: Bringing Back The Funk|website=Allmusic.com}}

|rev2=People|rev2Score=(favourable){{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-quick-cuts-vol-69-no-25/|title=Picks and Pans Review: Quick Cuts|website=people.com}}

|rev3=Jazz Times

|rev3Score=(favorable){{cite web|url=https://jazztimes.com/reviews/currents/brian-culbertson-bringing-back-the-funk/|title=Brian Culbertson: Bringing Back the Funk|website=Jazz Times.com|date=26 April 2019 }}

}}

Bringing Back the Funk is a studio album by Brian Culbertson released in 2008 on GRP Records.{{cite book|title=Brian Culbertson: Bringing Back the Funk|date=2008|publisher=GRP Records}} The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/brian-culbertson/chart-history/jls/|title=Brian Culbertson: Bringing Back the Funk (Jazz Albums)|publisher=Billboard|website=billboard.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/brian-culbertson/chart-history/blp/|title=Brian Culbertson: Bringing Back the Funk (Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums)|publisher=Billboard|website=billboard.com}}

Overview

Bringing Back the Funk was executively produced by Maurice White.

Artists who feature on the album include Bootsy Collins, Ray Parker Jr., Musiq Soulchild, Larry Dunn, Ledisi, Maceo Parker, Larry Graham, Sheldon Reynolds and Gerald Albright.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93252355|title=Culbertson Switches Up the Groove|date=August 11, 2008|publisher=NPR|website=npr.org}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=29552#.UNey6qyHNpR|title=Brian Culbertson: Bringing Back the Funk|author=Kasey. Wheeler, Katrina|date=June 11, 2008|publisher=All About Jazz|website=allaboutjazz.com}}

Singles

The song "Always Remember" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/brian-culbertson/chart-history/jsi/|title=Brian Culbertson: Always Remember|publisher=Billboard|website=billboard.com}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| title1 = Funkin' Like My Father

| note1 = featuring Bootsy Collins

| writer1 = Bootsy Collins, Brian Culbertson, Candice Cheatham, Keith Cheatham, Donald Moore, Sheldon Reynolds, Pete Roberts, Zion Roberts

| length1 = 5:15

| title2 = Always Remember

| writer2 = Culbertson, Reynolds

| length2 = 4:22

| title3 = Hollywood Swinging

| note3 = featuring Gerald Albright and Musiq Soulchild

| writer3 = Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George Brown, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Claydes Smith

| length3 = 4:09

| title4 = The House of Music

| note4 = featuring Larry Graham and Ronnie Laws

| writer4 = Culbertson, Larry Graham

| length4 = 4:50

| title5 = You Got to Funkifize

| note5 = featuring Chance Howard

| writer5 = Emilio Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka

| length5 = 5:26

| title6 = The Groove

| writer6 = Culbertson, Larry Dunn

| length6 = 4:41

| title7 = The World Keeps Going Around

| note7 = featuring Ledisi

| writer7 = Bill Withers

| length7 = 4:26

| title8 = Excuse Me... What's Your Name?

| writer8 = Culbertson, Maurice Fitzgerald, Chris Miskell

| length8 = 1:59

| title9 = Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)

| note9 = featuring David T. Walker and Eddie Miller

| writer9 = Richard Evans, Ric Powell, Phil Upchurch

| length9 = 6:02

| title10 = Let's Stay in Tonight

| writer10 = Culbertson, Reynolds, Maurice White

| length10 = 5:29

}}

Performers

  • Greg Adams (Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Horn Arrangements)
  • Gerald Albright (Sax (Alto), Soloist, Guest Appearance)
  • Derrick "D.O.A." (Allen Bass, Performer)
  • Michael Bland (Drums, Performer)
  • Lenny Castro (Percussion, Performer)
  • Bootsy Collins (Vocals, Producer, Engineer, Space Bass, Guest Appearance)
  • Phelps "Catfish" Collins (Guitar, Performer)
  • Brian Culbertson (Clarinet, Percussion, Piano, Trombone, Trumpet, Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, Clavinet, Trumpet (Muted), Producer, Engineer, Clapping, Executive Producer, Fender Rhodes, Mixing, Soloist, Mini Moog)
  • Cora Dunham (Drums, Performer, Clapping)
  • Larry Dunn (Clapping, Fender Rhodes, Mini Moog)
  • Sonny Emory (Drums, Performer)
  • Maurice Fitzgerald (Bass, Performer)
  • Dan Fornero (Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Performer)
  • Kush Gardner (Trumpet)
  • Rick Gardner (Trumpet, Performer)
  • Matt Godina (Assistant)
  • Larry Graham (Bass, Guest Appearance)
  • Chance Howard (Vocals, Vocals (background), Clavinet, Clapping, Synthesizer Bass, Guest Appearance)
  • Ice Candi (Vocals)
  • Paul Jackson, Jr. (Guitar, Vocals, Performer, Clapping)
  • Ron Jennings (Guitar, Performer, Soloist)
  • Ronnie Laws (Sax (Tenor), Soloist, Guest Appearance)
  • Tony Maiden (Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals, Performer, Clapping, Soloist)
  • Eric Marienthal (Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor), Performer, Horn Arrangements)
  • Eddie Miller (Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (background), Clapping, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Guest Appearance)
  • Chris Miskel (Drums, Performer)
  • Musiq Soulchild (Vocals, Vocals (background), Clapping, Guest Appearance)
  • Monty Neuble (Synthesizer, Performer, Clapping, Talk Box)
  • David Pack (Vocals (background), Performer)
  • Maceo Parker (Sax (Alto), Performer)
  • Ray Parker Jr. (Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Vocals, Performer)
  • Darlene Perri (Tambourine, Vocals)
  • Lori Perri (Tambourine, Vocals)
  • Sharon Perri (Tambourine, Vocals)
  • Ricky Peterson (Organ (Hammond), Vocals, Performer, Clapping)
  • Morris Pleasure (Bass, Performer, Synthesizer Bass)
  • Sheldon Reynolds (Guitar, Vocals, Vocals (background), Producer, Engineer, Clapping)
  • Tom Scott (Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor), Performer)
  • Sam Sims (Vocals, Performer, Clapping, Slap Bass)
  • Rhonda Smith (Bass, Performer, Clapping)
  • Sonny Thompson (Guitar)
  • Lee Thornburg (Trumpet, Flugelhorn)
  • David T. Walker (Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Soloist, Guest Appearance)
  • Bobby Ray Watson (Bass, Performer)
  • Fred Wesley (Trombone, Performer)
  • Maurice White (Performer, Clapping, Executive Producer, Mixing)
  • Bernie Worrell (Keyboards)
  • Zion Planet 10 (Vocals)

Production

  • Rob Brill (Assistant Engineer)
  • David C. Britz (Executive Producer, A&R, Management)
  • Dahlia Ambach Caplin (A&R)
  • Steve Cartotto (Music Preparation)
  • Anthony Caruso (Assistant Engineer)
  • Ed Cherney (Engineer)
  • Mitchell Cohen (A&R)
  • Hiroko Ito (Assistant Engineer)
  • Bernie Grundman (Mastering)
  • Lisa Hansen (Release Coordinator)
  • Beth Herzhaft (Photography)
  • Bob Horn (Engineer, Mixing)
  • John Newcott (Release Coordinator)
  • Dave K. (Stylist)
  • James Karukas (Piano Technician)
  • Garry Kief (Management)
  • Eddie King (Engineer)
  • Hollis King (Art Direction)
  • Adam Krinsky (Assistant Engineer)
  • Merrilee McLain (Hair Stylist)
  • Bill Meyers (Horn Arrangements)
  • Cameron Mizell (Release Coordinator)
  • Evelyn Morgan (A&R)
  • Maytal Rozensher (Assistant)
  • Jim Ryberg (Engineer)
  • Tommy Tucker (Engineer)
  • Ron Tuttle (Piano Technician)
  • Sachico Asano (Graphic Design)
  • Keith Albright (Piano Technician)
  • Scott Steiner (Producer, Engineer)
  • Michael Stever (Horn Arrangements, Music Preparation, Transcription)

Charts

=Albums=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
Chart (2008)

! Peak
position

{{album chart|Billboard200|99|artist=Brian Culbertson|rowheader=true|access-date=July 12, 2023}}
{{album chart|BillboardContemporaryJazz|1|artist=Brian Culbertson|rowheader=true|access-date=July 12, 2023}}
{{album chart|BillboardJazz|3|artist=Brian Culbertson|rowheader=true|access-date=July 12, 2023}}
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|18|artist=Brian Culbertson|rowheader=true|access-date=July 12, 2023}}

=Singles=

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Title

! Chart

! Position

2008

| "Always Remember"

| US Smooth Jazz Songs

| align=center| 1

References