Peter White Biography
English guitarist Peter White got his professional start backing singer-songwriter Al Stewart, but in recent years he’s emerged as one of the principal guitar-playing exponents of the smooth jazz style. White’s lyrical playing style and distinctive melodic sensibility give his music a vibrant, playful edge that often transcends the parameters of smooth jazz, and have helped him to win a large American audience. And unlike many artists identified with the smooth jazz genre, White maintains an impressive improvisational ability that he puts to good use on his recordings.
Growing up in England in the 1960s, White was the right age to fall under the spell of the Beatles; later, he became enamored of heavier bands like Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull. But his own career led White in a very different direction. He got his first break when, at the age of 20, he won a spot in Al Stewart’s band, beginning with Stewart’s hit 1976 album Year of the Cat. White’s productive relationship with Stewart lasted for 20 years, but he began branching out In the late ’80s, when he was tapped by his musician/songwriter brother Danny White to back singer Basia, playing on her album Basia On Broadway. White launched his solo recording career in 1990, just in time for his albums to be embraced by the then-new contemporary jazz radio format.
After signing with Columbia Records in 1995, White achieved notable success with such releases as Caravan of Dreams, Songs of the Season, Perfect Moment, Glow and Confidential. He also found time to play on albums by such instrumentalists as Rick Braun, Craig Chaquico, Richard Elliot, Everette Harp, Warren Hill and Kirk Whalum. White also teamed with many of those musicians on the road, touring collectively under the billing “An Evening of Guitars, Saxes and More.”
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