JAZZ

Saturday, December 5, 2015 8:00PM

Santa Comes Around Once a Year… So does Peter White & Friends!

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without this very special annual show from jolly ol’ Peter White stirring up some seasonal magic with Mindi Abair and Rick Braun.

For the 12th year running, A Peter White Christmas featuring Rick Braun & Mindi Abair is coming to town!

Contemporary jazz lovers eagerly await this annual fun filled concert which has packed fans into halls and arenas coast-to-coast year after year.

Join us Saturday, December 5th at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in Times Square, NYC.

Showtime 8pm
(Doors Open at 6pm)

TICKET INFO:

General Admission
- $50 Advance / $55 Day of Show
- First Come, First Seated

(Note: B.B. King Blues Club is a first come, first seated venue. Arrive early for the best seats!)

VIP Gold Circle Reserved Seating
- $85
- First Come, First Served

Note:
– Full Dinner Menu Available
– $10 Minimum Per Person, For All Tables
– All Ages

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS…

PETER WHITE:
Growing up in 1960s England, Peter White took interest in music while listening to the Beatles on the radio. His parents got him an acoustic guitar around age 8 and he taught himself to play while also taking lessons on the recorder, piano and later, clarinet. One day in 1967 after hearing Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” and never experiencing such sounds from his acoustic, he decided the electric guitar was to be the most important thing in his life. He eventually got one and furiously studied the works of Hendrix, Clapton and Page, but his dreams were put on hold when the guitar was burned in a fire (accidentally) set by his brother Danny. He found solace in his old acoustic guitar, having no idea that this incident, however tragic at the time, would prove a turning point in his life. He developed a love for the acoustic instrument that continues to this day. For over two decades, Peter has a reputation as one of the most versatile and prolific acoustic guitarists on the contemporary jazz landscape. Smooth jazz fans worldwide are enthralled by his spirited melodies, soulful grooves and inviting, instantly recognizable acoustic guitar tone. He’s always enjoyed finding unique ways to bring his modern sensibilities to cherished pop classics — and thanks to the smooth jazz format’s affinity for instrumental covers, two of the amazing thirteen #1 Radio & Records airplay hits he’s had through the years, “The Closer I Get To You” and “Walk On By,” have become enduring staples of the format. Pop music fans were listening to his classic acoustic guitar style even before the advent of the New Adult Contemporary and Smooth Jazz formats, most notably via his collaborations with British folk/pop singer Al Stewart. The Stewart-White partnership, which culminated with the dual live recording Rhymes in Rooms (1992), spanned over 20 years. White played on Stewart’s landmark “Year of the Cat” album, he co-wrote and performed on two of Stewart’s biggest hits, “Time Passages” and “Midnight Rocks.” In the late 1980s, White accompanied Basia on several of her acclaimed albums and in 1996, she was featured on his album Caravan of Dreams, with vocals on the popular single "Just Another Day.” With over a dozen albums, numerous musical collaborations, and his annual A Peter White Christmas shows, Peter is still going strong. His latest release, Smile (Oct. 2014), features guest spots from Mindi Abair, Rick Braun, and Euge Groove.

MINDI ABAIR:
Mindi Abair shines as one of the contemporary jazz artists who crosses over into the world of pop. Her unique hybrid sound and mix of cool vulnerability and utter conviction gives the likes of John Mayer and Corinne Baily Rae a run for their barrier breaking money. Mindi’s own brand of pop meets jazz adds a refreshing voice to an exciting new generation of crossover artists who, like her, are powerful instrumentalists as well as thought-provoking singer songwriters. John Taylor, famed Duran Duran bassist, spoke of her stunning melodies and heartfelt lyrics, citing her 2008 album “Stars,” a genre-busting, breathtaking combination of contemporary jazz and Top 40 torch songs. He noted, "It will be love at first listen.” Mindi’s first single from the album, the title track “Stars,” struck genre transcending success, hitting #29 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Mindi has been producing quality groundbreaking releases like this since her debut album, “It Just Happens That Way,” which debuted in the Top 5 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and remained in the Top 10 for 19 consecutive weeks. Her 2006 release, “Life Less Ordinary,” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and remained in the top 20 for 45 weeks. She received a 2015 GRAMMY® nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for her solo CD “Wild Heart.”

RICK BRAUN:
No one on today’s contemporary urban jazz scene knows more about the power of perfect, timely partnerships (or what it takes to keep the #1 hits coming) than Rick Braun. After launching the millennium with “Shake It Up” with Boney James (sharing a Best Collaboration award for their 2000 hit reigning at #1 on the Billboard chart for 11 weeks) and later hooking up with Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown as BWB, he toured as part of Jazz Attack, then with Peter White and Jonathan Butler in 2005 and 2007. He continued to collaborate in 2007 teaming up with saxman Richard Elliot for RnR. Their duet project immediately hit #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart and its catchy title track single was an instant smash, holding at #1 on Radio and Records’ (R&R) Contemporary Jazz airplay chart for over two months. A 2008 tour followed. Though the years Braun has also become a top genre producer, working with Elliot, Antoine, Willie & Lobo, David Benoit, and Jeff Golub, among others. He set a record at the 2002 National Contemporary Jazz Awards in San Diego by winning a total of five trophies, including Best Male Artist, Best Album (“Kisses in the Rain,” which hit #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart), Song of the Year (the title cut) and Best Brass Player. Rick’s recent releases include Sings with Strings (2011) and the 2012 holiday album Swingin’ in the Snow.