Sittin' In With The Coool CAT

Christian de Mesones has been playing the bass for over 40 years, gaining national and international acclaim starting in 2017 with several singles and his They Call Me Big New York album. Previously, you could hear him with the Groove Skool Band. His years of performances and recordings propelled him to the top of Billboard's Smooth Jazz Airplay chart. Christian hung out with Coool CAT's Ray White in November of 2023, as he came off stage, to talk about his band, shows, recordings and the latest happenings in his career. Excellent insights! In our showcase segment, your "Hostess With The Mostest" Lisa Davis features multi-instrumentalist/Vocalist Paula Atherton whose latest single is Dancin' Shoes. We close out this episode with the Grammy nominated pianist Bob Baldwin, who recently released B Positive. Another dynamic show from your friends at Coool CAT!

Norman Brown is a guitarist who's been called "a culmination of Jimi Hendrix and George Benson with some Wes Monthgomery thrown in," by Jazz Times magazine. His prowness as a musician and genre-bending facility has made him one of the most sought after internationally renowned musicians in contemporary jazz! Multi award-winning program director Ray White caught up with Norman after his performance who provided his insights into his latest album Let's Get Away, growing up in Kansas City and the music scene there, the latest with BWB and collaborating with the great saxophonist Gerald Albright. You'll find more from Norman on Episode 62. Lisa Davis, your "Hostess With The Mostest," closes out 2023 with two artists who were high on the contemporary jazz and blues charts during the year. Brian Culbertson who had several awesome songs on his The Trilogy - Pt. 3: White album and Susan Tedeschi, an awesome guitarist and vocalist, who just released her Just Won't Burn (25th Anniversary) CD. Finishing another fabulous year here on the Coool CAT!!

This year we feature the amazing Jonathan Butler and guitarist Randy Jacobs, founder of The Boneshakers, who are winding down the 2023 Dave Koz Christmas Tour. They'll provide insights into their recent holiday projects as we finish up the year with our celebration. In our showcase segment, we bring you more holiday cheer from Joe Bonamassa with Dion, jazzman David Garfield with Tom Scott and Dave Koz too! Listen to more celebrations of this wonderous time of year on Episode 52, 72, 93, 117 and 141!! A gift from Ray White and Lisa Davis to you, from the Coool CAT family!!!

Dave Koz is among the elite saxophonists and entertainers in the music industry today. Throughout the year you'll find him on his global sea cruises, with his "Summer Horns" or out on his Christmas Tour - headlining with other world-class musicians. Throuhout the years, Dave's been nominated for numerous Grammy awards in the "Best Pop Instrumental Album" category. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Dave on his 2022 Christmas Tour to talk about his recent albums; The Golden Hour with Cory Wong and A New Day. His latest album is A Romantic Night In. Dave's certainly a leader within the Smooth Jazz genre! In our showcase segment, your "Hostess with the Mostest" Lisa Davis, features Billboard charting guitarist David P. Stevens, who released his album Rogue in 2022. We close this show with Incognito, the British jazz and soul stalwarts whose new album is titled Into You. Fresh new highlights in the smooth and contemporary jazz world - right here on the Coool CAT!!

Brent Carter has been the lead vocalist for the Average White Band since 2011. Before then, he was the frontman for Tower of Power. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Brent backstage to talk about his days with Tower of Power and how he hooked up with AWB. He also shared his insights on Average White Band's latest sudio album - Inside Out. Will the band release one more album before calling it a day? Brent will share his thoughts on that too! Your "Hostess with the Mostest," Lisa Davis, closes out the show featuring the awesome band, Tower of Power! Their latest studio release is titled Step Up. Get up on your feet and shake your booty on this episode, brought to you by the Coool CAT!!

Bob James, is known worldwide as a premier composer/producer/keyboardist. A multi-Grammy award winner, Bob was also bestowed with the George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. Ray White, the CAT's multi-award winning program director, caught up with Bob backstage before his concert to talk about his early years in music, changes in recording technology through the decades and his latest album - Jazz Hands. In our showcase segment, our own Lisa Davis features the awesome contmporary jazz guitarists, Nils, whose latest album is Cool Shades. The very best in Contemporary Jazz, right here on the Coool CAT!

Guy Allison, keyboardist/composer/producer, is best known as a touring member of The Doobie Brothers for 19 years. His career started off in jazz having secured a place in the coveted Monterey All-Star Jazz Band. Through the late 1970's and today, you'll find him in several rock bands, but returned to jazz on his excellent latest album - A Designed Presence. Multi-award winning program director Ray White "zoomed" with Guy to talk in detail about his latest project, players on the album, song backgrounds and much, much more! In our showcase segment, we feature the amazing bassist Brian Bromberg whose latest album is titled The Magic of Moonlight. Outstanding, dynamic world-class musicians, featured on the Coool CAT!!

Eric Benet has talent that transcends the music industry. The four-time Grammy nominee is also gifted in the areas of acting, producing and business. Multi-award winning program director Ray White sat down backstage with Eric to talk about his music and diverse interests and television projects during their June of 2023 interview. In our showcase segment your "Hostess with the Mostest," Lisa Davis, features another amazing multi-talented performer - Grammy winner Ledisi, whose latest single is I Need To Know. We close out the show with guitarist and composer Ken Navarro, who's landed numerous songs in the Top 5 of the contemporary jazz charts. His latest album is Love Is Everwhere. The best of R&B and much more on the Coool CAT!

Rick Braun is a dynamic trumpeter, composer and producer with over 20 #1 smooth jazz hits. Along with jazz, you'll find him collaborating with rock/pop superstars like Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Tom Petty and REO Speedwagon too! During COVID he launched the highly successful Rick's Cafe Live show. On this episode, multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Rick backstage in July of 2023 where they talked about his latest album Rick Braun, his river cruises and much more! You can also hear more from Rick on Episode 136 of our show. Lisa Davis features, in our showcase segment, saxman Kim Waters, whose recent release is That Special Touch and the phenominal vocalist Maysa, whose latest album is Music For Your Soul. Brought to you by your good freinds at Coool CAT - "Where Old School is New School...Again"!

Jimmy Bo Horne played an integral part in defining dance, disco and popular music during the 1970's. More than a half-dozen of his songs hit the charts through 1980. The Top 10 hit, "Dance Across The Floor," was certified double gold. With Jimmy having been featured on American Bandstand and Soul Train, multi-award winning program director Ray White talks with him about those experiences along with insights into his hot new single "Starting Tonight," and much more! In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis keeps the party groove going featuring KC and the Sunshine Band who recently released "Unconditional Love," Gloria Gaynor whose latest album Testimony won a Grammy award and Australian superstar Kylie Minogue who will be releasing the album Tension in the coming weeks. A trip down memory lane with dance and disco's top artists right here on the Coool CAT!!