Refreshingly, Come On Up was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and listen to comfortably from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.
Come On Up has a nicely varied, mix of 12 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly gifted artist. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are his own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions like love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. They're all here.
The nice thing about a CD like this is when the talent is this rich even if Smooth Jazz isn't your favorite style you still can't help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.
Listen and I think you'll agree that the song choices are excellent, the production is outstanding and Brian Culbertson's piano playing is simply in top form. Of particular note on this offering is his amazing rendition of Midnight with Marcus Miller and Steve Cole.
While the entire album is really very good some of my favorites are track 3 ? Midnight, track 7 ? the Earth, Wind and Fire song from way back Serpentine Fire, and track 10 ? the title track Come On Up.
My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 5, Days Gone By. What a nice track!
Come On Up Release Notes:
Brian Culbertson originally released Come On Up on Jun 24, 2003 on the Warner Bros. Records label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Intro 2. Say What? - (featuring Steve Cole) 3. Midnight - (featuring Marcus Miller/Steve Cole) 4. Playin' 5. Days Gone By 6. What Up B? 7. Serpentine Fire 8. Fly High - (featuring Rashaan Patterson) 9. Last Night - (featuring Rick Braun) 10. Come On Up - (featuring Norman Brown) 11. Our Love 12. Funky B
Personnel: Brian Culbertson (trumpet, trombone, flute, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, synthesizer, shaker, programming); Ricky Peterson (vocals, Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Norman Brown (vocals, guitar); Rahsaan Patterson (vocals); Steve Cole (soprano saxophone, alto & tenor saxophones); Brian Ripp (baritone saxophone); Rick Braun, Jim Culbertson, Jerry Hey, Gary Grant (trumpet); Bill Reichenbach (trombone); Carly Bauer (flute); Stephen Lu, Dave Hutton (keyboards); Paul Jackson, Jr. (acoustic & electric guitars); Michael Thompson (electric guitar, E-bow); Steve Rodby (acoustic bass); Marcus Miller, Richard Patterson, Alex Al (bass); Oscar Seaton, Jr. (cymbals); Lenny Castro (shaker, percussion). Producers: Brian Culbertson, Stephen Lu, Rahsaan Patterson, Scott Steiner.
