JAZZ

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 6:30PM

A Smooth Cruise Double Bill!

PETER WHITE
Over the past 16 years, as Peter White has kept thousands of smooth jazz fans worldwide enthralled by his spirited melodies, soulful grooves, and inviting, instantly recognizable guitar tone, he’s always has a blast finding unique ways to bring his modern sensibilities to cherished pop classics. Thanks to smooth jazz format’s affinity these days for instrumental cover songs, two of the incredible 13 #1 Radio & Records airplay hits he’s enjoyed over the years, “The Closer I Get to You” and “Walk On By” (from 1994’s Reflections), have become enduring staples of the format. White’s recent rediscovery of the original demos from that hit project sparked a rekindling of the retro flame that inspired him to once again start Playin’ Favorites (2006) on his latest disc for Sony Legacy.

MINDI ABAIR
Born on tour into a musical family, Mindi Abair was playing piano by the age of five. Within three years, she was playing saxophone and writing songs. She made her way through Berklee performing all kinds of music from jazz to rock and R&B. Upon moving back to Los Angeles, Abair started her own band. She also took on session work with artists as diverse as the Gap Band, Adam Sandler, Mandy Moore, John Tesh, Teena Marie, and the Backstreet Boys. During this time, she worked on creating her own sound and released her debut disc in 1999. The year 2000 saw the release of the follow-up, Always and Never the Same, and shortly thereafter Abair signed with GRP Records. A sophomore effort, It Just Happens That Way, was issued in 2003. “Lucy’s,” “Save the Last Dance,” and the album’s title track went on to impact Top Ten radio. A year later, Abair returned with Come as You Are, her second set produced with her writing partner, Matthew Hager. In 2006, Abair released Life Less Ordinary, which featured guest vocals from Lalah Hathaway and Keb’ Mo’, and also performed at the Governors Ball, the official Oscars afterparty. 2008 saw a return to Abair’s solo material (and an introduction to Abair as a singer) with Stars.