David G White: While You Were Sleeping

Guitarist David White made a splash on Origin Records with his Big Neighborhood band.  Neighbors was released in 2005 on the label, followed by 11:11 in 2007. He picked up a Grammy nomination. Both albums pushed boundaries—White cites a wide range of influences: singer/songwriter James Taylor, Latin jazz, Led Zeppelin, McCoy Tyner, bebop and free jazz. 

Big Neighborhood was a quartet—a saxophone and a rhythm section. For While You Were Sleeping he distills things to the trio format. He takes the equality of input thing—pioneered by pianist Bill Evans—to an extreme. The disc opens with an inspired 'bass-out-front' arco moment that sets the tone for the free-flowing fusion of the title tune. It sounds like something Frank Zappa might have conjured in his Hot Rats (1969), Waka Jawaka (1972) days—both albums released on the Bizarre / Reprise label..

Complex chord changes and visions of the Weather Report group abound. Pat Metheny may be lurking here, too.  White is given to crisp, taut, single-note runs spicing up the spaces between dense chording sections. It brings a taunt form of rock music—of the most virtuasic form—to mind, though it is for the most part introspective. The set holds onto a cohesive framework from start to finish, featuring exquisite craftsmanship similar to the approach of Steely Dan's best work.

While You Were Sleeping is an album that can be played as soothing background music or savored with a deep immersion. Take your choice, or better yet, alternate between the two.