Peter The Great

Peter White dropped in to perform and chat before appearing on a Smooth Jazz Cruise with Alexander Zonjic. The maiden summer cruise series put together by Zonjic has picked up steam. Put together a buffet dinner, nice weather and the likes of The Sax Pack (Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole & Kim Waters), Nick Colionne, Alex Bugnon and Mr. White and success will follow.

In the coming weeks Marion Meadows, Ken Navarro, Gerald Albright and Kirk Whalum will set sail from downtown Detroit.

But back to Peter White. Whether he is covering a song or applying licks to his own creations, the dude from across the pond is just plain bad! And proof that you should never judge a book by its cover, upon first glance, you just don't expect the unassuming White to produce such a polished, smooth and sometimes funky sound.

It's been two years since his last album "Playin' Favorites" but White told me is his working on his next project.

"Got any suggestions?" he quipped.

I'm sure he'll manage to come up with something wonderful, reflective of that calm California lifestyle he's enjoyed for the past 30 years. Backing up numerous artists for 15 years, White says "It's still a bit strange to be in front of the audience, having people stare back at you."

And to think what might have been had it not been for his younger brother Danny. White has told the story countless times, but it's still serves as a life changing moment. Growing up in a small English town in the 1960s, White naturally was a Beatles fan and his parents bought him an acoustic guitar at eight years old. Of course, along came the American influence of Jimi Hendrix and all a sudden that acoustic guitar was lightweight stuff compared to an electric guitar which White eventually got. Enter Danny who White says decided to experiment with matches one day, burning down their room. Goodbye electric guitar. You know what survived by not being in the room? Yep, the acoustic guitar.

"I suppose I should really be thanking him," White said of his brother. "Things happen for a reason."

White says he also learned his lesson and began carrying that acoustic guitar with him everywhere. He certainly learned how to play it that's for sure.

I asked him a question that thankfully surprised him. Who would you love to play with of performers no longer with us?

"Does it have to be a person who played an instrument?" White asked.

Nope, it's your fantasy world.

"In that case Billie Holiday," White responded, his face getting lost in the thought. "Can you imagine playing in the background while listening to her sing? Just to be in the audience would be special but up there on stage... that would be magical."

Just as magical as the music White has been producing since stepping out as a solo artist. "Promenade" and "Bueno Funk" stand out as huge hits but there is so, so much more to take in.

Here's to that new album!

http://www.peterwhite.com/

What Ever Happened To John Klemmer???

I was in college at Purdue University when I discovered the music of John Klemmer. The album was "Touch," released in 1975. It had been out a whole year before it debuted on my turntable.

Talk about making an immediate impact! "Touch" was the album of choice for chilling out, getting intimate or falling asleep late at night. All of my jazz friends in the dorm were mesmerized as well. They all made cassette dubs (see their was music sharing even back then).

Klemmer's mellow approach to the tenor saxophone made for some killer cuts. From the title track of "Touch" to "Free Fall Lover" to "Tone Row Weaver," all you had to do was put the stylus down on this album and sit back.

1977 brought forth "Lifestyle (Living & Loving), probably my favorite of all his music. "Tough & Tender" remains as beautiful a song as the first time I heard it. "Lovin' Feelings," "Lifestyle" and a nice rendition of Stanley Clarke's "Quiet Afternoon" make this album special.

Some music critics have credited Klemmer for being one of the earliest pioneers of smooth jazz. His music, however, went through several climates before he found a niche that served him well, at least in terms of a following.

His website has a list of all his work but sadly there is no news of a concert date (just the hint of one - possibly with Rick Braun) nor does it seem any new music is on the horizon. That's a shame because I'd love to hear what Klemmer is capable of producing after all these years.

2008 Smooth Jazz Fest - Southfield, MI

Every year, rain or shine, V98.7 with help from flutist Alexander Zonjic puts together a stellar lineup that truly deserves to be on a bigger stage. I think maybe next year someone should look into recording this thing on HD and put it on Directv... just a TV guy thinking out of the box!

I mean, come on... over a three-day period (June 13-15), the audience was treated to the likes of Jeff Lorber, Jessy J, Peter White, Jeff Golub, Gerald Albright, Bobby Lyle, Mindi Abair, Kenny G and Marion Meadows. There are several others I can throw in but I don't want to make you too jealous.

What's that? Already did? Sorry about that. You should make plans for next year then because the performances were first rate.

I first saw Kenny G in concert during the winter of 1989 in Merrillville, Indiana. He was fine tuning not only his craft but his showmanship even back then.

Needless to say, he's come a long way from Merrillville. He has mastered that getting personal with the crowd thing, feeling at ease performaning not only for a crowd but in a crowd.

I recall during that Merrillville concert where he appeared from behind the audience, walking down an aisle, blowing his sax. What made it memorable was that he paused next to a woman who I later learned was slightly deaf and blind. He put her hand on his sax so she could feel the vibration of him playing. Wow... magical stuff. A showman is born.

So after all these years, I was happy to see in this tough business of making a living in jazz not only Kenny G's continued success, but he has the same piano player - Robert Damper and bass player - Vail Johnson, that he had during that night in 1989. I only wish he had enough time to stick around to give me a golf lesson!

I know Marion Meadows through some projects he and I have done with Alexander Zonjic. Personally I don't think there's anybody out there blowing as distinct a sound as the one which comes from Marion.

I hear a song on the radio and I know right away, it's Marion Meadows. Kudos to him for standing out in a crowd. And Marion is cool, good down to earth people.

An avid cyclist, he's probably huddled up somewhere right now watching the Tour De France. And Marion, did you break down and get the new iPhone 3G?

He's due to come back to the Detroit area in a few weeks and hopefully, I'll post a conversation. His last album "Dressed To Chill" was in 2006!!

Song On My Mind ...

Sometimes the wind blows a certain way... a leaf flutters to the ground... the ocean current flows just right... a bird's flight catches your eye and sometimes, a song lodges itself in your collective and sticks around...

One of those songs this week is "Come What May" by Najee from his album "Rising Sun."

Just something about it puts you in a cloud. And may I add the entire album is smooth as well. If you haven't already, go ahead and take the plunge. I believe you'll be addicted as well.

http://www.najeeonline.com/

And here's a clip of Najee performing live on our Fox 2 News Morning Show recently. And yes, that is Anita Baker in the audience.

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=6944745&version=1&locale=EN-US