18 | SMOOTH JAZZ NEWS e curveball on the record, the complex musical exploration, “Odyssey,” nds White at his peak. Originally written for his last album, Music for STARLUX Airlines, commissioned by STARLUX, was rejected by the airline because it was not predictable and soothing enough. “ is song was a bit unsettling—like life. Remember, an odyssey is an unpredictable journey with ups and downs and twists,” White explained. “A lot of smooth jazz is about ‘Everything is going to be OK,’ and that’s ne. People like that, but life o en works out di erently. ere has to be music for when life doesn’t turn out all well. Ask yourself this: Why do people listen to sad songs? Well, if you are sad, you want to know that there are people out there who feel your sadness. You get comforted by knowing you are not alone with your sadness.” e millions of people who swear by the music of Billie Holiday and e Smiths can attest to White’s theory. e guitarist looked back on his career with clear-eyed wisdom. He’s become a popular smooth jazz star, which wasn’t how he planned his career when he started by co-writing Al Stewart’s 1980s pop hit, “Time Passages,” and playing on Stewart’s hugely popular album, Year of the Cat. “When I started in the music business in 1974, I had no intention to be an artist,” White remembered. “I wasn’t trying to make myself heard over other artists. I just wanted to be a guy in the band. I didn’t have that burden of trying to prove myself as an artist. “It didn’t even dawn on me to make instrumental music until I was 33. Consider that Vincent Ingala is 32, and he has recorded seven albums,” he laughed. “I de nitely started late. I made a conscious decision to branch out.” He said that he had an epiphany when he was still acting as bandleader, musician and producer with Stewart. “One year, I heard a song by Al on e WAVE in Los Angeles—‘Ghostly Horses of the Plains’ from his Last Days of the Century album. It is an instrumental, and e WAVE picked it up. And the DJ said, ‘ at was Al Stewart.’ I was thinking, ‘No, that’s me,’ and it dawned on me that they are playing a song on which I’m the artist—I’m playing the melody. “I thought, what do I have to do to make sure people know who I am instead of just the guy playing on someone’s track? I had to make a CD and put my name on it. At the time, to get on the radio, you had to be jazz, easy listening or Muzak, but there was very little contemporary jazz—only Chuck Mangione and Kenny G, but that wasn’t my lane. I had to nd my own way, and I did.” Even though he’s a young 70-year-old— rigorously touring and recording some of his best music— White understands that despite the otherworldly endurance of Buddy Guy, e Rolling Stones and other musicians defying Father Time, he can’t do this forever. But he’s going to try. “People ask me when I am going to retire, and I say, ‘I’m already retired because I’m doing what I love,’” White said. “Mick Jagger keeps popular planned and song by Al by Al on Last Days of the Century album. and e WAVE picked it up. was Al Stewart.’ I was thinking, and it dawned on me that song on which I’m the artist—I’m “I thought, what do I have make sure people know who know who of just the guy playing on someone’s I had to make a CD and put my it. At the time, to get on the radio, to be jazz, easy listening easy listening or there was very little very little contemporary Mangione and but that wasn’t I had to nd Even though and recording that despite endurance of Guy, e Rolling defying Father can’t do this forever. “People ask going to retire, already retired doing what said. “Mick “I wanted a certain element of surprise on this album, so the listener will think, 'OK, I didn’t expect that’ as they go on the musical journey.” continued from page 17 Photo: Lori Stoll
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