Lenny White

Lenny White
White at the Oslo Jazz Festival 2016
White at the Oslo Jazz Festival 2016
Background information
Birth nameLeonard White III
Born (1949-12-19) December 19, 1949 (age 74)
New York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • bandleader
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion
Years active1968–present
Websitelennywhite.com

Leonard White III (born December 19, 1949) is an American jazz fusion drummer who was a member of the band Return to Forever led by Chick Corea in the 1970s. White has been called "one of the founding fathers of jazz fusion".[1][2][3]

White has won three Grammys and one Latin Grammy.[4][5] His song Algorithm Takedown won Best Song at the Cannes World Film Festival in 2023.[6]

Early life and education

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Born in Queens, New York City, White became interested in music at a young age. While he was living at home, his father would take him to jazz gigs. A self-taught drummer, he started playing with groups on the New York jazz scene. Early on, he played clubs such as the Aphrodisiac, Slugs, and The Gold Lounge.

It was at The Gold Lounge where he had his first gig with saxophonist Jackie McLean.[7] During the late 1960s he began performing with Mclean around Queens. Through this, White was recommended to play on Miles Davis' landmark 1969 LP Bitches Brew and feature on Freddie Hubbard's 1970 LP Red Clay. During 1972, White joined Return to Forever.[8][9][10]

Career

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White and Stanley Clarke, 1976

In 1975 White released his debut solo album entitled ‘’Venusian Summer,’’which featured guitarists Al DiMeola and fusion guitar pioneer, Larry Coryell. Big City was released in 1977. During 1978 he released his Space opera inspired The Adventures of Astral Pirates and his third solo album Streamline. He eventually formed the jazz/soul group Twennynine who went on to issue three studio albums, 1979's Best of Friends, Twennynine with Lenny White in 1980, and 1981's Just Like Dreamin'.[1][2]

White then made a guest appearance on Chick Corea's 1982 album Touchstone and produced Chaka Khan's 1982 LP Echoes of an Era. He also co-produced, with EW&F's Maurice White, Pieces of a Dream's 1986 LP Joyride and later released his 1995 album Present Tense.[1][2] White now teaches at NYU Steinhardt where he has an ensemble as well as a lecture class on Bitches Brew called “The Miles Davis Aesthetic.”[7][11]

Personal life

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White has been a longtime resident of Teaneck, New Jersey.[3] He endorses Vic Firth drum sticks and only plays his own signature epoch cymbals sponsored by Istanbul Agop.[12]

Awards and honors

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Grammy Awards

White has earn two sole Grammy Award nominations, while winning a total of three.[13]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1975 No Mystery Best Jazz Performance by a group Won
2010 The Stanley Clarke Band Best Contemporary Jazz Album Won
2011 Forever Best Jazz Instrumental Album Won

Latin Grammy Awards

White has been nominated for and won one Latin Grammy Award.[14]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 Forever Best Instrumental Album Won

Cannes World Film Festival 2023

Best Song Winner with Algorithm Takedown [6]

Discography

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As leader/co-leader

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As Return to Forever

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With Chick Corea, Bill Connors and Stanley Clarke

With Chick Corea, Al Di Meola and Stanley Clarke

As Corea, Clarke & White

With Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Jean-Luc Ponty, Frank Gambale

As producer

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As sideman

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "All About Jazz: Lenny White biography". allaboutjazz.com. All About Jazz.
  2. ^ a b c Yanow, Scott. "Lenny White". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  3. ^ a b Kara Yorio (December 19, 2013). "Teaneck's Lenny White to play four nights at Jazz Standard". The Record. Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2016. White, a two-time Grammy winner, is one of the founding fathers of jazz fusion. His first recording gig was with Miles Davis on the groundbreaking "Bitches Brew" album that was released in 1970.
  4. ^ "Artist Lenny White". Grammy Awards. February 13, 2011.
  5. ^ "Latin GRAMMYs". Latin GRAMMYs. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Cannes World Film Festival - Remember the Future | June 2023 Winners".
  7. ^ a b "Fusion Star Lenny White". Modern Drummer Magazine. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  8. ^ Chinen, Nate (August 3, 2008). "The Return of Return to Forever". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  9. ^ Reed, Ryan (February 12, 2021). "Chick Corea: Hear 12 Essential Performances". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  10. ^ Pareles, Jon (August 14, 2011). "Jazz Fusion Heroes of the 1970s Resurrect Their Intricate Dynamics". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Lenny White". NYU Steinhardt. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  12. ^ "A Bridge To The Future: A Conversation with Lenny White". New York Jazz Workshop. July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "Lenny White". grammy.com. The Recording Academy.
  14. ^ "Lenny White". latingrammy.com. The Latin Recording Academy.
  15. ^ a b Introducing Letizia Gambi - Letizia Gambi | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved May 12, 2022
  16. ^ a b "Miles Davis News Introducing Letizia Gambi". October 22, 2012.
  17. ^ a b Micallef, Ken (June 2016). "Letizia Gambi Cross-Cultural Mix" (PDF). Downbeat Magazine: |page=25.
  18. ^ "Witness to History". eddiehenderson.bandcamp.com. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
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