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New Releases
Brian Culbertson - "Bringing Back The Funk"
(Verve - 04/29/08)
You've heard of the Ohio Players. Brian Culbertson is the Chicago Player - a keyboardist, trombonist, writer, arranger, producer and the most exciting live performing instrumentalist on the scene today. The proof is all over his milestone tenth project,
Bringing Back The Funk, a historic and completely unprecedented revisiting to the land of the sho' nuff uncut `70s-style funk of ages. The "historic" declaration is not hype - for the first time ever, legendary old school funk masters from nearly every signature soul band and region of the country have united under Brian and executive producer Maurice White (founder of Earth Wind & Fire) to once again lay the righteous and real stuff on a deeply needy world. Dig this list: William"Bootsy" Collins and Phelps "Catfish" Collins, members of the Rubber Band and the Horny Horns (all out of Parliament-Funkadelic), Larry Graham (of Sly & The Family Stone and his own Graham Central Station), Larry Dunn and Sheldon Reynolds (of Earth Wind & Fire), Greg Adams (from Tower of Power), Tony Maiden and Bobby Watson (of Rufus), Michael Bland, Cora Dunham and Rhonda Smith (from Prince's bands), solo stars Ray Parker Jr., David T. Walker, Ronnie Laws, Gerald Albright, Tom Scott, Paul Jackson Jr., Perri, Maceo Parker & Fred Wesley (from James Brown's JB’s band), and many more L.A. session greats. Add neosoul stars Ledisi and Musiq Soulchild, and the vibe becomes clear: Ain't nothin' but a party, baby bobba! "I've wanted to record an album like this for many years," Culbertson states with pride - "one where I could really cut loose." Consisting of six slammin' original compositions and four classic `70s jams, Bringing Back The Funk turned what would have been a "mission: impossible" for others into a mission most righteously accomplished – with everyone recording together live in the studio… the way they used to get down! Upon completion of the project, Maurice White himself declared, "This record is gonna touch the souls of people because it's musicians playing together and sharing a feeling."
© 2008 brianculbertson.com
Clique Girlz - (EP)
(Interscope - 04/29/08)
When you meet the three Clique Girlz — sisters Paris and Destinee Monroe along with best friend Ariel Moore—after hearing them sing, it will shock you to learn that such big voices can come from such petite girls. The pop-rock exuberance of their currently untitled debut
album, releasing on Interscope Records, is richly filled with three-part leads and harmonies delivered with a freshness and authority that contradicts their ages. Working with some of the top-name producers/songwriters in the business, 12-year-old Paris, 13-year-old Destinee and 13-year-old Ariel have stunned industry observers with a professionalism that still doesn't get in the way of fun. Songs like “Then I Woke Up,” written by John Shanks and Kara DioGuardi, introduces the trio's fun outlook with nods to “rock, hip-hop, bling and Dr. Phil.” The track was produced by Robert Schwartzman and John Fields (Pink and Switchfoot). One listen and you realize this is no manufactured, teenybopper, bubble-gum group, but a group whose music can appeal to all ages. The three met at school five years ago and became inseparable friends, driven by their love of music and dance to form a group. In person, Clique Girlz Paris, Destinee and Ariel finish each other's sentences as they enthusiastically describe the journey that has taken them from their native Atlantic City, NJ, to Hollywood, where Jimmy Iovine himself signed them to his Interscope label.
© 2008 cliquegirlz.com
American Idol - "Shout To The Lord" (Single)
(19 Entertainment - 04/09/08)
IDOL GIVES BACK, the historic Emmy Award-winning television event and music celebration airing Wednesday, April 9 (7:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, will raise awareness and funds to
benefit six charities, including: the Children's Defense Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More, Save The Children, U.S. Programs and the Children's Health Fund. This year's event, beginning at a special 7:30 PM start time, will be bigger and more ambitious than ever. Robin Williams, Celine Dion, Forest Whitaker, Billy Crystal, Dane Cook, Kiefer Sutherland, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Jennifer Connolly, Elliott Yamin, Fantasia and Amy Adams join previously announced international talent and sports figures Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Fergie, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox, John Legend, Snoop Dogg, Maroon 5, Heart and Gloria Estefan.
© 2008 americanidol.com