Sittin' In With The Coool CAT

The legendary Randy Brecker has played trumpet and flugelhorn with a who's who of world-class musicians since the late 1960's. With 20 solo albums to his credit and nearly a dozen with his brother Michael, as the Brecker Brothers, Randy is among the elite musicians in the world today. Award winning program director Ray White, caught up with the Grammy winning musician in January of 2013 to talk about several of his cohorts throughout the years and about his Jazz Ballad Song Book project. Recently, Randy released a new album - Live and Unreleased a recording of The Brecker Brothers from 1980. Your hostess, Lisa Davis, also features Herb Alpert - a 9-time Grammy award winner, in our showcase segment. A documentary and box set, Herb Alpert Is..., will be released in the Fall of 2020. Jazz musicians in a class of their own, brought to you by the Coool CAT!

Many jazz followers are familiar with the work of saxman Jeff Kashiwa as a member of The Rippingtons, throughout the 1990's. Since 1995 , Jeff has produced 9 solo albums with a new release expected very soon. You'll also find Jeff in the sax-loaded band - The Sax Pack. Jeff's latest solo project is titled Fly Away. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Jeff in the lobby of his hotel - right before his show, to talk about his latest effort, new projects and much more. In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis brings you the latest from Soul/R&B superstar Brian McKnight. His recent effort is Exodus. Two is better than one, so we'll also shine the spotlight on 4-time Grammy winner India.Arie whose current project is Worthy. Contemporary Jazz, Soul and R&B at it's best...on the Coool CAT!

Emilio Castillo, co-founder of Tower of Power, has led the band for over 50 years. Their horn-based R&B/Pop sound is known worldwide for their fantastic musicianship. TOP's vocalists are among the best of the genre. Multi-award winning program director, Ray White, caught up with Emilio in April of 2020 to talk about their latest release - Step Up, the band and today's challenging times. In our showcase segment, your "Hostess with the Mostest" Lisa Davis turns you on to the awesome saxophonist Kim Waters, whose latest project is Shakedown along with guitarist Thom Rotella, who just released the single Street Talk. Brass...and strings - right here on the Coool CAT!

Greg and Gary Grainger are two of the busiest guys in the music business. As co-founders of Pockets in the late 1970's, they recorded 3 studio albums which contained 6 songs that landed on Billboard's R&B charts. Back together today, Pockets have been in the studio and have just released their new single - Work It Out. In recent years, bassist Gary and drummer Greg, have produced several albums as Grainger with the latest being Phase III. With their roots back to the early days of Earth, Wind & Fire, they also find the time to book gigs as In Gratitude - a tribute to their long time friends. On the contemporary jazz front, they record and tour with Acoustic Alchemy, whose recent release was 33 1/3. And last...but certainly not least, you'll find the brothers in the Paul Reed Smith Band, playing worldwide and laying down some tracks, too. Multi-award winning program director, Ray White, talked with them on all fronts, on this packed-full episode! They are certainly, two really Coool CAT's!!

One of the top R&B singers today, Phil Perry launched his career in 1971 as a member of The Montclairs. He's sang on numerous contemporary jazz albums throughout the years and has released 12 solo studio projects. You'll find him in the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, too! Multi-award winning program director Ray White, talks with Phil about his latest album - Breathless, the Jazz Legacy Foundation and overcoming surgery. A voice like no other...Mr. Phil Perry! Your "Hostess with the Mostest" Lisa Davis, features saxman Michael Lington, whose latest album is Silver Lining and Incognito's Bluey, who just released Tinted Sky. R&B and Contemporary Jazz, it's Coool...CAT!

Smooth Jazz keyboardist Jay Rowe can be found on stage with many of today's top performers on the smooth jazz scene. Special EFX, and others, keeps him on the road for most of the touring season. Jay's talents includes writing, producing and serving as musical director. He's released 5 solo albums with the latest being Smooth Ride. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Jay, in November of 2019, in his busy hotel lobby after dropping off his bags before heading to soundcheck. Jay also gives back via his Smooth Jazz for Scholars foundation. He's dynamic...among the best...Jay Rowe! In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis features two great performers - former Tower of Power frontman Lenny Williams, who has a new album out titled Fine and "Mr. Entertainment" guitarist Nick Colionne who just released Finger Painting. This episode is chock full of awesome entertainment...that's right...Coool CAT!!

Mike Phillips has played with many of music's top performers throughout his career including Stevie Wonder, Prince, Boyz II Men and Babyface. As a solo artist, he has a handful of albums to his credit. In our October of 2018 interview, multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Mike to talk about the honor of being the first musician to be signed by Nike, his M.P.3 album and his latest project - Pulling Off The Covers. Your "Hostess with the Mostest" Lisa Davis, features guitarist Ken Navarro in our showcase segment. Ken's latest release is titled - Into The Light. We close out this episode of the Coool CAT with a tribute to Soul and R&B singer Betty Wright, who passed away on May 10, 2020. She was awarded a Grammy in 1976 for composing "Where Is The Love."

Peter White started his musical career in the pop/rock world in the mid-1970's playing with Al Stewart and Basia. In 1990, he launched his solo career shifting over to smooth jazz and jazz fusion styles. Since then Peter has had 13 Top 10 albums and 12 Top 20 singles. Multi-award winning program director Ray White hooked up with Peter backstage after a show in August of 2019. His lively interview touched on his participation in the West Coast Jam tour, connection with James Bond and his personal insights to living on the road and separating from loved ones during tours. Peter's latest album is - Music From Starlux Airlines. Our "Hostess with the Mostest," Lisa Davis, features 12-time Grammy nominated R&B and Jazz recording artist Ledisi, in our showcase segment. Her latest single, Anything For You, is rapidly climbing the charts.

"Steady Rollin'" Bob Margolin performed on his first record in 1967. This blues guitarist/songwriter/vocalist has played in bands with the legends - Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins and many others. Bob's won numerous blues music awards and played on several Grammy winning recordings. Multi-award winning program director, Ray White, caught up with Bob backstage to talk about highlights from his career, his Bob Mangolin album and touched on his latest effort, This Guitar and Tonight. In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis features the blues and roots music band The Nighthawks, whose 30th album release is Tryin' To Get To You. Whether it Blues, Soul, R&B or Contemporary Jazz, the Coool CAT is where "Old School Is New School...Again"!

4-time Grammy nominee Boney James is among a small group leading the way in the contemporary jazz genre. In 2009, this saxophonist/songwriter/producer was named by Billboard magazine as one of the Top 3 Contemporary Jazz Artists of the Decade. Boney's right at home writing and playing R&B tunes too, having collaborated with Morris Day, The Isley Brothers, Faith Evans , Angie Stone and many others throughout his career. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Boney backstage in August of 2018 to talk about his Honesty project, that became his eleventh #1 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and also reached #22 on their Current Albums chart - his highest pop chart debut to date. His upcoming album is titled Solid, and it's another "can't miss" release. One of the best-selling music artists of all-time, Usher, is featured in our showcase segment by Coool CAT's Lisa Davis. His latest single is Don't Waste My Time. For more info on our 30-minute shows, visit us at Coool CAT - "Where Old School Is New School...Again."