Brian Culbertson: The Song That Changed My Mind About Contemporary Jazz
I’m an old-school, slow-jazz guy.
Give me a four-piece jazz band—sax, bass, drums and piano—and I’m ready to sit back, light up a fine cigar, pour my favorite cocktail and let the music take me somewhere.
Most of the artists I’ve come to know and love were popular in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. Miles Davis, Art Pepper, Dave Brubeck, Bill Evans, Chet Baker… that’s my musical neighborhood.
I like my jazz smooth, sophisticated and unhurried.
So, I never really thought of myself as someone who would get excited about contemporary jazz.
Then I heard “On My Mind.” by Brian Culbertson
I was doing what I often do—streaming jazz on YouTube—when Brian Culbertson popped up. I didn’t know who he was, but something about the video caught my attention. There he was: young, spiky blond hair guy, wearing a jewel-studded jacket and sitting behind a piano.
The song was “On My Mind,” a song Brian wrote, and within a few minutes I knew I had stumbled onto something different. This wasn’t the slow, smoky jazz I normally gravitate toward. It was contemporary jazz, but it had a bluesy soul underneath it. There was just enough funk to give it some attitude without overpowering the melody. His piano playing was at the center of it all, but the music had rhythm and a modern energy that pulled me in.
It was sophisticated without being stuffy.
It was contemporary without abandoning the roots of jazz.
And most importantly, it made me want to hear it again.
I went back to “On My Mind” several times, and the more I listened, the more I appreciated what Culbertson was doing.
From a YouTube Song to a Road Trip
Of course, listening to someone on YouTube is one thing.
Seeing them perform live is another. “On My Mind” had made me curious about Brian Culbertson the musician. It was his live show that turned me into a fan. Julie and I made a special trip to Salem, Oregon, to see Brian and his band perform. I knew he was a talented pianist. I just didn’t know how much of a performer he was.
Brian doesn’t simply sit behind the piano and play. He puts on a heck of a show.
His band is clearly made up of exceptional musicians, but Brian is the center of gravity. He constantly interacts with the audience, moves around the stage and seems to genuinely enjoy being there.
There are the moments when he walks around the piano
so he can play it backwards.
Yep—backwards.
And when he’s ready to change things up, he grabs a trombone and joins the brass section.
Watching him perform, I realized that the guy I had discovered sitting behind a piano on YouTube was much more than a jazz pianist.
He’s an entertainer.
He’s a bandleader. And he understands that a great concert isn't just about hearing the music. It’s about experiencing it!
A Jazz Man Who Refuses to Stay in One Lane
His career has spaned more than three decades now and he has built an impressive catalog as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer. His music moves between contemporary jazz, funk, R&B, acoustic jazz, pop and even New Age.
His career began in 1994 with Long Night Out, an album he recorded in his college apartment. The keyboard-driven contemporary jazz album became a chart success and launched a career that has continued to evolve. And now, in 2026, Culbertson has returned to his jazz-fusion roots with Day Trip, bringing together an impressive collection of musicians including Marcus Miller, Branford Marsalis, Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, Eric Marienthal, Sheila E., Kirk Whalum and Nathan East. But what I like about Brian is that despite all those different influences, he still sounds like Brian Culbertson.
The Oregon Man's Take
I still consider myself an old-school jazz guy.
Give me a smoky room, a great saxophone player, a piano, bass and drums, a fine cigar and a well-made cocktail, and I'm a happy man. But now I'll add Brian Culbertson to the playlist. Because “On My Mind” reminded me that great jazz doesn't have to sound like it came from 1965 to make me stop what I'm doing and listen. Sometimes jazz can have a little funk,sometimes it can have some R&B and sometimes the piano player can have spiky blond hair, wear a jewel-studded jacket, turn around and play the piano backwards—and then pick up a trombone and join the horn section.
I'm more than okay with that.
If you're an old-school jazz guy like me, don't dismiss contemporary jazz.
Start with “On My Mind.”
Turn it up.
Pour yourself a drink.
Light a cigar.
And give Brian Culbertson a chance to change your mind, too.
The Oregon Man Rating: ★★★★★
Music for a cigar, a cocktail and an open mind.
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