With Peter White's 12th album, "Good Day," he asserts himself as one of the leading guitarists in the smooth jazz genre, blending different guitar tones and styles that assures listeners of what "easy-listening" music really is.

White is most commonly known for his 20-year stint accompanying British folk-rock musician Al Stewart, playing on such acclaimed albums as "Year of the Cat." White has since distanced himself from Stewart and with his new album he showcases his versatile guitar playing by not limiting himself in terms of genre and making himself accessible to all music listeners.

We've all encountered the kind of music White offers with "Good Day." One could mock that White's music is the kind you'd hear when put on hold with a telemarketer or patiently waiting in the dentist's office. These assertions aren't false and, in fact, you probably would hear his music in these scenarios, though that's not to say White's music caters to such audiences. A closer listen to "Good Day" shows not only how skilled White is with a guitar, but how he's willing to hold his playing back to let each song speak for itself.

The self-titled opener and the ever-catchy "Bright" show that White isn't completely infatuated with the jazz scene and that he knows how to make catchy riffs. Unlike most jazz, in which song structure is based in large part on improvisation, White offers guitar hooks that work as well as any vocal melody would and makes songs short enough to hold the listener's attention.

Aside from vocal gasps and limited words provided on such tracks as "Love Will Find You," "Good Day" is almost entirely instrumental. This works in the album's favor, however, and makes it easy to listen to without having to concentrate on lyrical meaning. White blends jazz with world and latin music and even shows comparison to James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, two of his inspirations who showcase acoustic-based guitar playing.

Overall, "Good Day" offers an excellent blend of genres that work best in a relaxed setting. Though he could receive criticism for a limited sound for primarily sticking with acoustic guitar, White makes his music accessible to the masses and shows us why electric guitar isn't necessary to get a fuller sound when grooving.