Patti LaBelle, Brian Culbertson, Leela James LIVE in Concert at Phoenix’s Celebrity Theatre on December 14

Patti LaBelle, Brian Culbertson and Leela James will be performing LIVE at Phoenix’s Celebrity Theatre on December 14! Show starts at 6:15 p.m.

PATTI LABELLE:

Beautiful, simply does not describe the incomparable force known to the world as Patti LaBelle. Through the years, the songbird’s name has become synonymous with grace, style, and class. Her effortless ability to belt out classic rhythm and blues renditions, pop standards and spiritual sonnets has created the unique platform of versatility that the artist is known and revered for.
For more than 60 years, Patti’s resplendent voice has left an indelible mark all over the world. This Philadelphia born entertainer captured her first hit in 1962, as lead singer of The Bluebelles and went on to receive worldwide acclaim with the trailblazing and genre bending trio, Labelle. A solo artist since the 1970s, Patti has created timeless songs that have helped cement her place as a music icon and garnered her numerous honors, including GRAMMY Awards, American Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, New York Times bestselling books and more.

BRIAN CULBERTSON:

Over the course of crafting a 25-album catalog and architecting nearly 40 Billboard No. 1 singles as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, Brian Culbertson has charted his own unique course in music. Label him jazz and he makes a funk record. Call him an R&B artist and he drops an acoustic jazz trio collection. Brand him pop and he creates a 32-minute New Age opus. And you’d be hard pressed to name another instrumentalist of his ilk who can mount an elaborately designed concert production that will keep him on the road for three consecutive months.

Culbertson burst onto the scene in 1994 with a chart-topping album that he recorded in his college apartment featuring keyboard-led contemporary jazz tracks. “Long Night Out” landed him a lengthy record deal and signaled that a star was born.

Flash forward to present day, Culbertson composed thirty songs that populate the three albums in “The Trilogy” that describes the three-part arc of a long-term relationship: the hot and steamy “falling in love” phase, the rocky middle when perhaps they even break up for a bit, and the couple reunites to live “happily ever after” phase.

“Hearing the three albums in a row provides the context. All the songs on ‘Red’ (October 2021) were clearly about passion and love. ‘Blue’ (January 2022) is melancholy and sad songs, breakup songs and ‘losing people’ songs. Once you get to part three, ‘White’ (May 2022) is all about songs that have an uplifting feel to them. Stylistically, they all feel similar even though they are emotionally broad” said Culbertson.

Possessing style, panache and a savvy business mind capable of moving the needle in music and beyond, Culbertson founded and curates the annual Napa Valley, Chicago, and New Orleans Jazz Getaways, which have attracted guests from all over the globe to experience his premier events.

Whether you’re listening to music from “The Trilogy” on record or live in concert, you’re hearing an eclectic, entertaining and engaging set from an artist at the peak of his power.

LEELA JAMES:

What sets the acclaimed R&B and soul singer-songwriter, Leela James, apart is her fearless approach to music. “The best artists stay true to who they are, no matter the scale, “ she believes. These values have allowed Leela to remain a consistent figure in R&B. still topping the charts with a discography of quality soul music spanning nearly 2 decades. Leela’s music is a constant reminder of what it is to be human- to love, to regret and to dream. Leela’s stellar career first began when she burst onto the scene in 2006 with her debut album, A Change…

Click here to buy your tickets:

https://www.celebritytheatre.com/events/patti-labelle-brian-culbertson-leela-james

Event subject to change without notice.

Southwest Jazz & Heritage Festival has been split into August and December dates.