Pianist returns for soulful encore of holiday music

Friday, Dec. 14, 2007 | 7:27 a.m.

It's Christmas Tour II for jazz pianist Brian Culbertson, who will be at Boulder Station tonight.

Saxophonist Gerald Albright, guitarist Nick Colionne and vocalists Howard Hewett and Victoria White will join Culbertson's band.

"We started last year to promote the Christmas album," Culbertson says of "A Soulful Christmas." "We did so well we thought we'd do it again this year."

Radio station KOAS 105.7-FM (The Oasis) is co-sponsoring the Vegas show and is hosting a Christmas toy drive for the benefit of Positively Kids. Bring a new, unwrapped toys to Boulder Station from noon until 8 p.m. today and in exchange receive a raffle ticket for prizes.

When The Soulful Christmas tour ends next week, Culbertson heads back to the studio to finish work on his next album.

"It's one of the most fun records I've done - an old-school funk record," says Culbertson, who has had a long love affair with the funk sound. "We cut most of it live. The band is incredible."

Among those working on the project are Maurice White, founder of Earth, Wind and Fire, and Larry Graham, bassist for Sly & the Family Stone and Graham Central Station.

"There's a ton of other incredible funk R&B musicians, tons and tons of people. It's funky, funky," Culbertson said. "A big party. You put on all these party tracks and you really start groovin'."

The CD, which doesn't have a title yet, should be available in spring, Culbertson says.

Meanwhile, Culbertson is having a blast with his jazzed-up Christmas show, about half of which is holiday music.

He says including Albright, Colionne, White and Hewett creates a "super band."

"We're out there over two hours playing each other's music," Culbertson says.

Culbertson's music includes eight albums, ranging from his "Long Night Out" in 1994 to "It's on Tonight" in 2005 and last year's "Soulful Christmas."

Culbertson has been around music since the day he was born. His father, Jim, was a high school band leader in Decatur, Ill., and taught him music.

"My dad has pictures of me sitting in a high chair with big old headphones on," Culbertson says. "He said I'd start crying if he took them off. I just loved jazz since I was a baby.

"I soaked up everything he would play. Typically, most kids can't stand the music their parents listen to, but I loved jazz."