“the gold standard for smooth jazz guitarists.” – All About Jazz
Having just turned seventy, British-born guitarist Peter White raves about his latest album, 2025’s Light of Day. “I think this recording is one of the best I’ve ever made. I have as much enthusiasm and energy for music as I did in my twenties!” Additionally, 2024 marked his fiftieth year as a professional musician. There, he began with a gig in a Top Forty band at a holiday resort in Perranporth, a seaside resort town in the Southwest corner of England. Then, six months later, he met and officially launched his career recording and touring with singer/songwriter Al Stewart. Also, White co-wrote Stewart’s classic “Time Passages”.
Early on in his career he enjoyed working as a sideman for Stewart and later, Basia. However, White could never have anticipated becoming an acclaimed instrumental recording artist, let alone a popular headliner. Now, 2025 marked thirty-five years since he dropped his debut album Reveillez-Vous. In that time, he scored four Number One Billboard Contemporary Jazz albums and four Number Two albums. Additionally, he had seven Number One Smooth Jazz Airplay hits. His most recent Number One was as a featured artist on Carol Albert’s “Sunshine Yellow.”
White’s lyrical style of instrumental music is unique and distinguishable, occupying a niche of his own in smooth jazz. Moreover, he has collaborated with Boney James, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Kirk Whalum, Dave Koz and numerous others.
“Once I began recording instrumental albums and they enjoyed some success, the biggest surprise of my career is that I actually became an entertainer,” White says. “I had complete freedom to create music that I loved without rules or compromise. I’m thrilled that I’m still around, playing with some of the greatest musicians in the world!”
Recommended for fans of Earl Klugh, Brian Culbertson, David Benoit and Bob James.
📸: Lori Stoll
