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“Glow”
Peter White
Columbia, 2001
Release Date: October 2, 2001
IT’S
TIME TO “GLOW”
English born smooth jazz
guitarist Peter White has given music lovers of all types a gift…his
eighth solo album, destined without doubt to be chronicled as his best
yet. “Glow”
captures what has become many of White’s trademarks, while demonstrating new sounds, beats and twists.
His dedication to perfection took him back to the studio for mix
after mix, once even after it was mastered. This album proves that when
you search very deeply within yourself, new boundaries can be crossed
that not only work, but can catapult you to levels of musicianship that
reflect greatness.
Such is what has happened in
this work, where White has risen to new heights, now more than ever as a
composer. Having written nine of the eleven songs either solo or in
collaboration with his some of his studio mainstays, with exceptional
programming and production from Steve Dubin, Peter White now gives to
his fans the music that most of us knew would come from him.
If such a thing is possible after leaving his impressionable mark
on his fans via his previous albums, what you will find in “Glow”
is a compositional level that involves intricacies of sound, melody,
rhythm, and dynamics brought together with the skill of a classical
composer. From the very
first song “Chasing The Dawn”, it’s evident.
Emotionally motivated by
major life changes, most significantly the passing of his father last
year and then becoming one, Peter White has now written and delivered
music to us that allows listeners to “feel his own spirit” if you
will. “Glow” has been
in the works for a year and a half and precisely engineered and mixed,
it is this work, performed for the most part by White alone in his
studio that sets this album apart.
He has brought forth a combination of Latin, Flamenco, funk,
R&B and smooth jazz that work perfectly together.
The Flamenco/Latin push of “Chasing” with the clear,
accomplished technique of this musician takes you straight into the
windmills of Don Quijote, White noting,”This was my Dad, always
looking for something better”. His
cover of the Isley
Brothers’ “Who’s That Lady?”, featuring the sultry sax of Kirk
Whalum is pure silk “Turn It Out”, the album’s first radio release couples
the soulful and steady side of Peter White with the strong mix of Euge
Groove’s sax. The
album’s next track, “Bullseye” is lively, disco dancing worthy,
underscoring some of his greatest musical influences, the music of the
70’s. You’ll hear Steve
Cole here, touching in at just the right time and Tim Heintz lending
skilled keyboard work. Calling on the sexy trumpeting style of Rick
Braun, in “Just My Imagination” these two friends and collaborators
make a song that we used to sing along to become special in the most
gentle and melodic of ways. “Bueno
Funk” is just that…good funk! Some
very exact percussion work in this song, featuring Cole once again
“painting” in his sax flurries with clarity and steadiness.
In this writer’s opinion however, it is the title track of this
album, that is the centerpiece of this beautiful setting of musical
moods.
“Glow”, featuring the
soft and alluring saxophone of another good friend, Dave Koz is a
mini-vacation. Close your
eyes when you listen and you’ll be watching a sunset, sailing over an
indigo blue ocean, looking up to the stars on a clear night or driving
past your favorite vista in a convertible.
Besides the absolute mastery of this com position,
and the delicate touch of Peter White on his acoustic guitar, the song
develops your visions as these two artists intertwine with their
instruments. It is simply
put…exquisite. Kick back
to the Latin side with “Pedro Blanco”, perfection played out once
again ahead of this samba-based and percussion strong song.
Reaching and tugging at your heartstrings, White delivers a solo
effort on “When I’m Alone”, written possibly as many as twenty
years ago, which is melancholy, yet sweet.
This is one hundred percent White instrumentally also where he
delivers his keyboard finesse and a very inspirational guitar.
It is this recorded version of the song that was played at his
father’s funeral, the song being a favorite of his Dad’s.
Keeping to the wholesome and
loving memory of his father, “Life Story” is celebratory of this
great influence in White’s life.
Written to a bossa nova rhythm, again, the skill and touch of
Peter White on the acoustic guitar and keyboards are most notable about
this song. With a dreamy
melody to go along, the orchestration is finished and classy and lends
itself beautifully to the total piece.
Finally, with “Baby Steps” innocence and new life prevail in
this lyrical, sweet and “lilty” song co-penned with Rick Braun.
Inspired by the first steps of Braun’s baby girl, Emma, and
entitled after White witnessed them in Braun’s studio, the song
highlights this guitarist delivering some Chet Atkins-type licks
brightly and melodiously. Rick
Braun’s steady distant flugelhorn, and keyboards season it wonderfully
and the most beautiful bridge at two minutes into this song that this
writer has heard in years, seals the package…worth listening for.
If it was ever a good time to
have this finest of music, the timing couldn’t have been better.
The title fits the mood of this album to a tee.
Diverse, sophisticated, emotionally altering throughout, Peter
White has delivered a jewel. The
genius of this artist unfolds completely and this is what is musically
spoken; he has come into his own and this gifted composer, consummate
musician and genuinely nice guy has given us the chance to peek into his
heart briefly, and glow.
©
Joan Lynch
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