Sittin' In With The Coool CAT

Rick Braun is one of the world's premier trumpet players. He also plays flugelhorn and other instruments too and has released 19 albums since 1992. His collaborations, R&R and BWB, has broadened his appeal among contemporary jazz fans. Also a composer and producer, Rick has over 20 #1 smooth jazz hits during his career. Multi-award winning program director Ray White sat down backstage with Rick in December of 2011 while he was touring with Dave Koz during Dave's Christmas Tour. Rick shared his insights about his first band, interest in the fluglehorn, collaboration with his good friend Richard Elliot and his awesome Sings With Strings release. His current project is titled Rick Braun. In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis features the latest from saxman Kim Waters who just dropped That Special Touch and the very latest on Earth, Wind & Fire, too! Be sure to check our Episode 002 for more from Rick Braun here on the Coool CAT!

Eric Gales started playing guitar in blues competitions when he was 11 years old. By the time he was 16, he secured a major recording contract. Guitar World named Eric the "Best New Talent" in 1991. He also performed with Carlos Santana at Woodstock '94. Over the years Eric released 19 albums and you'll also find him on many compilation releases. Many consider him one of the top guitarists in the world! Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Eric backstage in November 2021 to talk about his early career as a child prodigy, his latest album Crown and much, much more. Perseverance has been a major theme of Eric's career. Check him out for yourself!! In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis features another guitarist whose music career is drenched in the blues, one of the greatest ever - Eric Clapton. His latest release is a live album - Nothing But The Blues, which features many blues standards that he recorded at The Fillmore in San Francisco in 1994 during his From The Cradle tour. The Coool CAT brings you two legendary musicians whose careers were heavily influenced by the Blues. Blues lovers, don't miss this one!!!

Paul Taylor has developed a stellar career of over 25 years blowing smooth jazz sounds on his alto and soprano saxophones. All 12 albums he's released has landed on Billboards's Top Jazz Charts. Multi-award winning program director Ray White hung out with Paul in June of 2022 to talk about his latest album And Now This, recording all musicians on the new album remotely, his creative partner Dino Esposito and also his favorite pastime! You can also check our more from Paul on Episode 34. In our showcase segment, we'll feature another super saxman - Dave Koz. One of his latest releases is A Romance Night In. We close out our show with the very latest on the super group Jazz Funk Soul, which features Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp and Paul Jackson, Jr. Their latest project is titled Forecast. Nothing but the coolest on the Coool CAT!

Tab Benoit is a master of the delta blues. An amazing guitarist, you'll find him on many of the "best of" lists as one of the top guitarists living today. Since the early 1990's he's released over a dozen albums and, along with a Grammy nomination, Tab has won several Blues Music Awards. Tab's also been a strong advocate for environmental issues and was featured in the IMAX film "Hurricane on the Bayou." Multi-award winning program director Ray White spent time with Tab in May of 2022 and they discussed industry recognition of his music endeavors, his recently released Legacy: The Best Of project, his Whiskey Bayou Records business and Voice of the Wetlands non-profit organization he launched. In our showcase segment Lisa Davis features Whiskey Bayou Records recording artist Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos - a group of steller musicians on-the-rise who's opened for ZZ Top, Bob Seger, Gov't Mule, Styx and other major bands. Their last album was a self-titled project released in 2017, but their new music is in the can and will be dropping very soon! We close out this episode with blues powerhouse Shaun Murphy who has numerous solo albums out and sang with Eric Clapton, Bob Seger, Little Feat, Meatloaf and many others. Her latest album is Flame Still Burns. You can find her "Sittin' in with the Coool CAT," on Episode 66. Best of the blues, right here on the Coool CAT!

Nelson Rangell is a superb saxophonist and also outstanding playing the piccolo. As a student he won Best Jazz and Best Pop/Rock instrumental soloist in Down Beat magazine's National Student Recording Awards. Nelson's career took off in the late 1980's when he signed with GRP record company. In November of 2021 Ray White, producer of Coool CAT, caught up with Nelson before taking the stage to talk about several of his early career stints as a sideman, his relationship with GRP Records, being part of a Grammy nominated project, music distribution in today's marketplace and his latest album By Light. In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis features the great trumpeter Rick Braun whose latest project is self-titled along with keyboardist and composer Patrick Bradley who released his Exhale album last year. We're taking it to the limit of your listening pleasure, right here on the internationally renown Coool CAT!

Chieli Minucci co-founded Special EFX in the early 1980's, producing excellent compositions that blended Latin Rhythm and Contemporary Jazz music. Solo or with Special EFX, Chieli has released nearly three dozen albums throughout his career. You'll also find his guitar work on songs by Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Lionel Hampton, Marc Anthony and many more superstar artists. In our November of 2021 interview with Chieli, the CAT's multi-award winning program director - Ray White, talked with him about his start in the music business, early days with GRP Records and his latest projects including Special EFX All-Stars, his current album Twenty Twenty 2 and his recent solo album Someone's Singing. You'll also find more from Chieli on Episode 061. In our showcase segment, your "Hostess with the Mostest," Lisa Davis, features the latest from the dynamic saxman Richard Elliot, whose recent album is Authentic Life. "Where Old School is New School...Again," that's right it's the Coool CAT!

James Lloyd is keyboardist and co-founder of Pieces of a Dream. He was only a senior in high school when his first album was released. James also has written and/or produced songs for dozens of other recording artists aside from Pieces. You'll find performances by him on television and film too. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with James in January 2000 to talk about the bands' On Another Note album, touring, his solo work, supporting projects of other musicians and his frightening airplane trip! The band's recent follow-up album is Fired Up! In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis features the former lead vocalist of the Gap Band, Charlie Wilson, whose latest single is No Stoppin' Us. And we wind up this episode with the multi-talented saxophonist and record company executive, Walter Beasley, who just released Meet Me At My Place. This episode has a groove that just doesn't miss...it's Coool CAT time!!

Maysa Leak is at the top of her game as one of the leading R&B/Jazz female vocalists today. She's been honored as a recipient of many awards including Soul Train's first Centric Award in 2009 and garnered her first Grammy nomination in 2014. In 2018, Maysa became the founder/owner of her own record label, Blue Velvet Soul Records. Her latest release is Music For Your Soul. In November of 2021, she shared details about her new record company, the new album with help from her friends and much more with multi-award winning program director Ray White. In our showcase segment Lisa Davis features the fantastic saxophonist Gerald Albright, whose latest project is titled G-Stream 2: Turn It Up along with contemporary jazz superstar Brian Culbertson who just released the Trilogy Pt. 3: White. We close out the show with the amazing guitarist Marc Antoine, who dropped Something About Her in 2021. A jammed-packed episode you don't want to miss! Coool CAT - "Where Old School is New School...Again."

David Benoit is a three-time Grammy nominated pianist who has charted over 25 albums since 1980. He has arranged, conducted and performed music for many popular jazz and pop artists including David Sanborn, Patti Austin, Kenny Loggins and Brian McKnight. In our December of 2012 interview with David, he shares with our executive producer Ray White insights on his early career, his recording days with GRP Records, Benoit/Freeman Project and his album Conversation. David's latest album is A Midnight Redezvous. Lisa Davis, "Your Hostess with the Mostest," showcases guitarist Norman Brown, whose latest release is Let's Get Away. In addition, blue-eyed soul singer/keyboardist Michael McDonald - who's out on the 50th Anniversary Tour with The Doobie Brothers, is featured. Smooth sounds, hits you right in your soul, on the Coool CAT!

Dan Kuramoto co-founded the contemporary jazz band Hiroshima, featuring Japanese instruments, in 1974. Throughout the years the band has been nominated for several Grammy awards and received two Gold albums. Multi-award winning program director Ray White, sat down backstage with Dan in November of 2021 to talk about the storied career of the band that launched in Los Angeles. Their latest album is 2020. In our showcase segment we honor our very good friend Nick Colionne, who unexpectedly passed away on January 1, 2022. A beloved jazz guitarist known for his enticing stage persona, we called Nick - Mr. Entertainment. You'll find shows featuring Nick on Episodes 006 and 118. Godspeed, Nick. We all miss you. On the leading edge of contemporary jazz...yep, it's the Coool CAT!