Guitarist Peter White Tops Himself in His Latest Album
Peter White's latest CD, "Good Day," offers a bright, sunny outlook from the opening Peggy Lee classic to the guitarist's final melodic riffs in "Say Goodnight.
" As a special holiday treat for fans, the versatile acoustic guitarist heads out to gigs featuring his own innovative arrangements with solo turns by trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Mindi Abair.
The three do their own thing and play together, as well, on some numbers.
Although they improvise a lot, jazz is a small part of the show filled with music that's accessible to everyone.
White has forged a career playing just the right balance of jazz, pop and classical guitar.
Growing up north of London, he admired the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, but his purchase of an electric guitar turned to disaster when it was destroyed in a fire.
That pushed him to the acoustic guitar, but no matter how he craved a music career, the times dictated otherwise.
At age 19, he was working without any prospects in a warehouse driving a forklift truck to move upright pianos.
Then one day a stranger dropped by and mentioned that a guitar player was needed for a gig at a holiday resort.
Without an audition or even a rehearsal, White was hired to spend the summer in Cornwall.
That first real job was a welcome change from the warehouse, even though he did not enjoy playing "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" every night instead of his favorite Led Zeppelin rock numbers.
Back home in the fall without even a telephone for contact, he discovered "Melody Maker," a music publication containing want ads for musicians.
Taking a chance, he answered one and was promptly hired to play in London.
The band soon broke up, but White was ecstatic.
By then, he was living in London with a phone of his own and a connection with Al Stewart's manager.
Like the proverbial happy ending, Al Stewart hired White to play keyboard on a tour of England, Scotland and the U.
S.
That was the start of a career during which he worked with Stewart on "Year of the Cat" and later on "Time Passages.
" In the early 1980s, both White and Stewart had settled in Los Angeles.
A decade later, White went on his own, releasing his first album which included several songs he had written earlier that Stewart had not used.
Twelve successful albums later, he has produced a recording that enhances all his guitar's capabilities.
At the same time, his lovely melodies and startling originality dominate all ten tracks of "Good Day,", none more inventive than "Mission 2 Mars.
" Looking back on his career, White says that his greatest pleasure has come from playing his own songs on stage and having people recognize him and his music.
He always invites folks to stay afterward and is especially grateful to those who share memories of joy his music has given them.
" As a special holiday treat for fans, the versatile acoustic guitarist heads out to gigs featuring his own innovative arrangements with solo turns by trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Mindi Abair.
The three do their own thing and play together, as well, on some numbers.
Although they improvise a lot, jazz is a small part of the show filled with music that's accessible to everyone.
White has forged a career playing just the right balance of jazz, pop and classical guitar.
Growing up north of London, he admired the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, but his purchase of an electric guitar turned to disaster when it was destroyed in a fire.
That pushed him to the acoustic guitar, but no matter how he craved a music career, the times dictated otherwise.
At age 19, he was working without any prospects in a warehouse driving a forklift truck to move upright pianos.
Then one day a stranger dropped by and mentioned that a guitar player was needed for a gig at a holiday resort.
Without an audition or even a rehearsal, White was hired to spend the summer in Cornwall.
That first real job was a welcome change from the warehouse, even though he did not enjoy playing "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" every night instead of his favorite Led Zeppelin rock numbers.
Back home in the fall without even a telephone for contact, he discovered "Melody Maker," a music publication containing want ads for musicians.
Taking a chance, he answered one and was promptly hired to play in London.
The band soon broke up, but White was ecstatic.
By then, he was living in London with a phone of his own and a connection with Al Stewart's manager.
Like the proverbial happy ending, Al Stewart hired White to play keyboard on a tour of England, Scotland and the U.
S.
That was the start of a career during which he worked with Stewart on "Year of the Cat" and later on "Time Passages.
" In the early 1980s, both White and Stewart had settled in Los Angeles.
A decade later, White went on his own, releasing his first album which included several songs he had written earlier that Stewart had not used.
Twelve successful albums later, he has produced a recording that enhances all his guitar's capabilities.
At the same time, his lovely melodies and startling originality dominate all ten tracks of "Good Day,", none more inventive than "Mission 2 Mars.
" Looking back on his career, White says that his greatest pleasure has come from playing his own songs on stage and having people recognize him and his music.
He always invites folks to stay afterward and is especially grateful to those who share memories of joy his music has given them.
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