Peter White

Growing up in the sleepy little English town of Letchworth Garden City in the 1960s, I first got interested in music while listening to the Beatles on the radio. My parents bought me an acoustic guitar when I was about 8 and I taught myself to play while simultaneously taking lessons on the recorder, piano and then later, clarinet. My music education was going along just fine until one day in 1967 I heard the Jimi Hendrix song “Purple Haze”. I had never heard sounds like that coming out of my acoustic guitar and I decided that from that day on, the electric guitar was to be the most important thing in my life. Now if only I could convince my parents to buy me one…. I eventually got my electric guitar and furiously studied the works of Hendrix, Clapton and Page, but my rock star dreams were soon put on hold when my beloved axe was burned in a fire (accidentally) set by my brother Danny. Distraught, I found solace in my old acoustic guitar which had been gathering dust in the corner. I had no idea that this incident, however tragic at the time, would prove to be a turning point in my life. I started to develop a love for the instrument, a feeling that continues to this day. Losing my electric guitar at that time proved to be a blessing - I soon found lots of inspiration in the music of Crosby Stills and Nash, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell who were all playing acoustic guitar based music. I started to carry that guitar with me everywhere I went- it became my best friend.

I knew by this time that music was my calling, and while all his friends went to college, I worked factory jobs until I landed my first musical engagement playing at an English holiday resort in the summer of 1974. After the summer was over I briefly joined a group by the name of “Principal Edwards’ Magic Theatre”, only to watch them disband a few weeks later. However, one of the members of that group recommended me to Al Stewart and I was asked to join Al’s band for a tour of England, Scotland and then the USA, starting in 1975. It was a very exciting time for me, being my first trip to America. We were opening up for artists like Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel and Queen. To be around these musical luminaries was a great thrill for a 20 year old! That summer saw my first studio experience at the famed Abbey Road studio in London, working with Al Stewart on the “Year of the Cat” album, soon to become a million seller. This was the beginning of a musical collaboration that was to last 20 years, during which time we wrote and recorded many songs together, including Al’s 1978 Top Ten hit “Time Passages”.

Along the way, brother Danny (remember the guitar burning incident?) had made his own way in the music business and made up for his pyromaniac ways by hiring me to work with a then unknown Polish singer- Basia. I played on her first album which was released in 1987 to much acclaim. It went on to sell millions worldwide and since then I have played on many tours and recordings with her. Thanks Danny!

In 1990, having been a backup musician for 15 years, and inspired by the English group “Acoustic Alchemy” I decided to start recording my own music and released my first CD “Reveillez-Vous”, a French title in honour of my French mother, Gilberte. It means “Wake Up”. Many other solo CDs followed, with several songs becoming No.1 hits on Smooth Jazz radio, such as “Midnight in Manhattan” a song I recorded with one of my idols, Grover Washington Jr. Basia also collaborated with me on "Just Another Day", a song from my "Caravan of Dreams" CD.

As well as recording my own music, I have performed on recordings by many of my friends, including Dave Koz, Gato Barbieri, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Craig Chaquico, Jeff Golub, Lee Ritenour, 3rd Force, The Rippingtons, Kirk Whalum, Boney James and Marc Antoine. I have been part of numerous “Guitars and Saxes” tours and also have established my annual “Peter White Christmas Tour”. This is a chance for me and some special guests to play some of our favorite Christmas melodies. (My Christmas CD “Songs of the Season” was released in 1997).

Over the years, I have become more comfortable as a performer. I feel a tremendous joy when I’m able to connect with my audience. The purpose of being up there is not to show how clever I can be, but to simply invite everyone to have a good time. Meeting people after shows to sign CDs and chat is also something which I like to do, whenever possible. It’s quite different from the days when I was just in the background getting little recognition!
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Peter White: Groovin'

Read "Groovin'" reviewed by Jeff Winbush

by Jeff Winbush
November 2, 2016

Some musicians simply have an affinity for certain genres. Peter White, having assumed the crown from George Benson has established himself as the gold standard for smooth jazz guitarists and this means he now has the freedom to do whatever he wants. What White wants to do with Groovin' is demonstrate how deft a touch he possesses in not simply covering classic pop and soul music, but putting an individual signature to his interpretations. There's a certain inherent ...

369

Live Review

A Peter White Christmas at Yoshi's

by Walter Atkins
December 26, 2014

A Peter White Christmas featuring Rick Braun and Mindi Abair Yoshi's Oakland Oakland, CA December 18, 2014 A Peter White Christmas, featuring Rick Braun and Mindi Abair, was a great way to enjoy the holiday season. Both Yoshi's Oakland shows were sold out and the 8 pm show was jam-packed with folks ready for the guitarist's annual Christmas concert. The all-star group started playing Christmas classics, encouraging the audience to sing along ...

Album Review

Peter White: Here We Go

Read "Here We Go" reviewed by Jeff Winbush

by Jeff Winbush
May 27, 2012

Make no mistake about it: Peter White is a technically proficient guitarist who blends impeccable taste and admirable fluidity in his playing. He is standing on the top of the smooth jazz food chain and Here We Go will do nothing to lessen his dominance as one of the most popular artists working today. White is a pro's pro who knows what he can do and he does it quite successfully.But there's a tad too much polish and ...

391

Album Review

Peter White: Good Day

Read "Good Day" reviewed by Jeff Winbush

by Jeff Winbush
September 19, 2009

Peter White is a proficient guitarist whose albums are clean in sound and pristine in the production. It's probably not possible to even smudge the CD with a greasy fingerprint. There's so much order and control in this effort that it begs the question: does White occasionally hire out someone to sneak into his house to hide his car keys and mess up the sock drawer just to inject a little chaos in his life?This is one confounding ...

163

Album Review

Peter White: Confidential

Read "Confidential" reviewed by Brian Soergel

by Brian Soergel
April 13, 2004

Smooth jazz guitar icon Peter White, whose pretty acoustic picking has defined the genre for more than a decade, offers eleven sometimes intimate, sometimes jubilant, always engaging slices of his heart on Confidential. You’d expect nothing less from a man who inspires a devout fan club and is eagerly welcomed onto stage and into studios by fellow musicians. Settling in with a new Peter White disc is like inviting Mr. Rogers and his Grandpa sweater and soft slippers into your ...

175

Album Review

Peter White: Glow

by Dave Hughes
November 1, 2001

Popular smooth jazz guitarist Peter White continues his mastery of the idiom on Glow, his latest for Columbia. I have to admit, one reason I like Peter White’s work better than most smoothies these days is that his playing always does seem to emit a happy, effervescent glow. His friendly, personable style goes a long way towards trying to redeem an otherwise mechanical, non-descript program. He invites an assortment today’s leading sax smoothies to lend their talents: Kirk Whalum, Euge ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Peter White with Rick Braun and Mindy Abair, Jeremy Davenport, Denise Thimes, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
November 29, 2008

The Thanksgiving holiday means a somewhat reduced level of activity on local concert stages (and a holiday posting schedule here at StLJN) but there are still some noteworthy jazz and creative music events happening in St. Louis this weekend:Let's start with trumpeter, singer and St. Louis native Jeremy Davenport (pictured), who returns home from New Orleans to perform at Jazz at the Bistro on Friday and Saturday, plus a matinee on Sunday to benefit PAN CAN, the Pancreatic ...
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Performance / Tour

Peter White Christmas Show Coming to the Pageant

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
September 17, 2008

This just in: Smooth jazz guitarist Peter White's Christmas show will be coming to St. Louis on Sunday, November 30 for a performance at The Pageant. Along with White, this year's edition of the holiday program features trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Mindi Abair (pictured).Tickets for the Peter White Christmas show go on sale at 5:00 p.m. this Friday, September 19, and can be purchased online via Ticketmaster and in person at The Pageant box office and all ...
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Performance / Tour

A Peter White Christmas with Rick Braun & Mindi Abair at the Keswick Theatre on December 5, 2007

Source: All About Jazz
November 8, 2007

Three of the world's top smooth jazz artists deck the Keswick halls for a special holiday concert, A PETER WHITE CHRISTMAS featuring the ace guitarist along with trumpeter RICK BRAUN and saxophonist MINDI ABAIR at Glenside's Keswick Theatre on Wed., Dec. 5 @ 8 PM.

Welcomed by Smooth Jazz 97.5 WJJZ, attendees are respectfully requested to bring gently-used, cleaned coats for all ages to benefit Salvation Army thrift stores. The gift of a new coat for a child under age ...
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