Lenny White was 20 years old when he appeared on Miles Davis’ breakthrough fusion album, Bitches Brew. Yet it was in a different setting with Chick Corea, Return To Forever, where White would make his greatest impact as the drummer in RTF’s classic quartet lineup alongside Stanley Clarke and Al Di Meola. In the 70s, White released a steady flow of solo albums and brought his distinctively crisp drumming (and wide-brimmed hat) to various sessions. Venusian Summer (1975) and The Adventures of Astral Pirates (1978) are highly recommended to fans of prog/fusion.
In the 80s, Lenny White formed the funk band, Twennynine, which released three albums: Best of Friends (1979), Twennynine With Lenny White (1980) and Just Like Dreamin’ (1981). He also recorded a few jazz albums with his Miles Davis alums, including Echoes of An Era (1982) with vocalist Chaka Khan. In the 90s, White recorded hip-hop/funk records on the Hip Bop Essence label. He continues to release occasional albums, including Anomaly (2010).
The Discography
VENUSIAN SUMMER (1975)
Chicken Fried Steak / Away Go Troubles Down The Drain / Venusian Summer Suite, Parts 1 & 2 // Prelude To Rainbow Delta / Mating Drive / Prince of The Sea. Released on elpee and 8-track in December 1975 in the US (Nemperor, NE/TP-435); reached #177 on the US charts and #25 on the US Jazz charts. Re-released on CD on December 14, 1999 in the US (Wounded Bird, 435).
BIG CITY (1977)
Big City / Sweet Dreamer / Egypt / Nocturne / Rapid Transit / Ritmo Loco / Dreams Come And Go Away / Enchanted Pool Suite / And We Meet Again. Released on elpee in 1977 in the US (Nemperor, NE-441); reached #17 on the US Jazz charts. Re-released on CD on December 14, 1999 in the US (Wounded Bird, 441).
THE ADVENTURES OF ASTRAL PIRATES (1978)
Theme For Astral Pirates / Pursuit / Mandarin Warlords / The Great Pyramid / Universal Love / Revelation / Stew, Cabbage and Galactic Beans / Heavy Metal Monster / Assault / Climax: Theme For Astral Pirates. Released on elpee in 1978 in the US (Elektra, 6E-121); reached #32 on the US Jazz charts. Re-released on September 17, 2002 in the US (Wounded Bird, 6121).
STEAMLINE (1978)
Struttin’ / Lady Madonna / 12 Bars From Mars / Earthlings / Spazmo Strikes Again / Pooh Bear / Lockie’s Inspiration / I’ll See You Soon / Night Games / Cosmic Indigo. Released on elpee in 1978 in the US (Elektra, 6E-164); reached #27 on the US Jazz charts. Re-released on CD on September 17, 2002 in the US (Wounded Bird, 164).
Lady Madonna (1978)
b/w 12 Bars From Mars. Released on 7-inch in 1978 in the UK (Elektra, K 12328).
BEST OF FRIENDS (1979)
Citi Dancin’ / Take Me Or Leave Me / Best of Friends / Peanut Butter / Betta / Morning Sunrise / Oh Sylvie / Tropical Nights. Credited to Twennynine and released on elpee in 1979 in the US (Elektra, 223). Re-released on CD on August 28, 2007 in the US (Wounded Bird).
TWENNYNINE WITH LENNY WHITE (1980)
Just Right For Me / It’s Music, It’s Magic / My Melody / Kid Stuff / Fancy Dancer / Love And Be Loved / Back To You / Slip Away / We Had To Break Away / The 11th Fanfare. Credited to Twennynine and released on elpee in 1980 in the US (Elektra, 6E-304); reached #106 on the US charts and #22 on the US R&B charts. Re-released on CD on September 18, 2007 in the US (Wounded Bird).
JUST LIKE DREAMIN’ (1981)
Rhythm / Twennynine (The Rap) / Movin’ On / Don’t Look Back / Just Like Dreamin’ / Need You / All Over Again / Find A Love / All I Want. Credited to Twennynine and released on elpee in 1981 in the US (Elektra, 551). Re-released on CD on August 28, 2007 in the US (Wounded Bird).
ECHOES OF AN ERA (1982)
Them There Eyes / All of Me / I Mean You / I Love You Porgy / Take The A Train // I Hear Music / High Wire – The Aerialist / All of Me (alternate take) / Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most. Co-credited to Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard and Chaka Khan and released on elpee in 1982 in the US (Elektra, E1-60021). Re-released on CD on February 28, 2003 in the Netherlands (Elektra, 73781).
THE GRIFFITH PARK COLLECTION (1982)
L’s Bop / Why Wait / October Ballade / Happy Times / Remember / Guernica. Co-credited to Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson and Freddie Hubbard, released on elpee in July 1982 in the US (Elektra, E1-60025).
GRIFFITH PARK, VOLUME 2: THE CONCERT (1982)
Live tracks: Why Wait / Guernica / Happy Times / October Ballade / I Mean You / Here’s That Rainy Day. Live release co-credited to Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson and Freddie Hubbard, released on 2LP and cassette in 1982 (Elektra, 60262).
ATTITUDE (1983)
Attitude / You Bring Out The Best In Me / Just Say The Word / The Ride / My Turn To Love You / Didn’t Know About Love (‘Til I Found You) / Fascination / Tell Him. Released on elpee in 1983 in the US (Elektra, 60232). Re-released on CD on September 13, 2005 in the US (Wounded Bird, 232).
PRESENT TENSE (1995)
Thick / East St. Louis / Who Do You Love / Door #3 / Sweet Tooth / Wolfbane / Tea In The Sahara / Dark / And Then You’ll Know / By Any Means Necessary / Two Weeks In Another Town / Shadow of Lo / Caprice. Released on elpee, CD and cassette in 1995 in the US (Hip Bop Essence, 8004); reached #23 on the US Jazz charts.
ESSENCE OF FUNK (1995)
Cornbread / Loose Change / Slow Drag / Eternal Flame / Freedom Jazz Dance / Jive Samba / Comin’ Home Baby. Released on CD in April 1995 in the US (Hip Bop Essence, 8007).
AFRO CUBANO CHANT (1995)
Cubano Chant / Tanya / Suave / Mui Tarde Amor / Los Dos Lorettas / Nica’s Dream / Casablanca. Released on CD in September 1995 in the US (Hip Bop Essence/Silva Screen, 8009).
HUB ART: A CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC OF FREDDIE HUBBARD (1996)
Intrepid Fox / Little Sunflower / Crisis / Up Jumped Spring / Pensativa / You’re My Everything / Bob’s Place. Released on CD on February 20, 1996 in the US (Hip Bop Essence, 8005).
RENDERERS OF SPIRIT (1996)
Whew! What A Dream / Ho-Cake / Walk On By / Pick Pocket / Savant / Sailing / Abyss / Swingtime / Beggin’ / Countdown 2000 / Dr. Jackle – Africa Talks To You. Released on CD in 1996 in the US (Hip Bop Essence, 8014).
EDGE (1999)
Raiders In The Temple of Boom / Big D / Exit / Kashmir / Mr. Depriest / No Man’s Land / It Was A Very Good Year / Truth – The Breath of Life / If Six Was Four? / Chatter / Semi-Five. Released on CD on February 16, 1999 in the S (Hip Bop Essence, 8019).
DREYFUS NIGHT IN PARIS (2000)
Live tracks: Tutu / The King Is Gone / Looking Up. Live release from 1994 co-credited to Marcus Miller, Michel Pettrucciani, Bireli Lagrene and Kenny Garrett, released on CD in 2000 (Dreyfus).
THE LENNY WHITE COLLECTION (2002)
Who Do You Love / Little Sunflower / Tanya / Dr. Jackle – Africa Talks To You / Uno Dos Adios / Jiva Samba / Sack O’ Woe / It Was A Very Good Year / By Any Means Necessary / Pick Pocket / True Blue. Compilation released on CD on July 23, 2002 in the US (Hip Bop, 8101).
LOVE HAS NEVER GONE: THE TRIBUTE TO EARTH, WIND & FIRE (2004)
Evil / Fantasy / Earth, Wind & Fire / After The Love Has Gone / See The Light / Runnin’ / Spirit / Getaway. Released on CD on August 10, 2004 in the US (Trauma, 903).
ANOMALY (2010)
Drum Boogie / We Know / Forever / Dark Moon / Gazelle / If U Dare / Election Day / Coming Down / CattLett Out of The Bag / Water Changes Everything / Anthem / The Wait Has Lifted The Weight. Released on CD on May 18, 2010 in the US (Abstract Logix).
