James Lloyd, co-founder of Pieces of a Dream, has a dynamic on-stage presence that has excited fans worldwide since 1976.  Influenced by the late Grover Washington, Jr., the band has released 20 studio albums throughout the years.  Every single one has landed on the music charts!  Besides his extraordinary keyboard skills, James is also a producer and songwriter.  Coool CAT executive producer, Ray White, hung out with James in November of 2017 to talk about his on-stage antics, debut solo album - Here We Go, and Pieces of A Dreams' Just Funkin' Around release.  The bands latest album is On Another Note.  Lisa Davis, your "Hostess with the Mostest," features another great keyboardist, Brian Simpson, in our showcase segment.  On his latest album he is joined by guitarist/vocalist/songwriter/producer Steve Oliver, who has scored multiple hit singles on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart.  Their latest collaboration album is titled Unified.  We're tickling the ivories on this episode from the Coool CAT! 

Dave Alvin, singer/songwriter and guitarist, landed on the national music scene as a founding member of The Blasters in 1979.  Throughout the years he's concentrated on his solo career, leaning towards Blues and Americana music.  In 2001, Dave won a Grammy for his Public Domain album.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Dave before his show in Asheville, NC, in June of 2011, to get his insights into playing with his brother, the "roots music" movement, and his Eleven Eleven release.  Dave's latest effort is titled, From An Old Guitar.  In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis features the phenomenal blues vocalist Shaun Murphy, whose recording career started in 1971 with Motown Records and has garnered numerous blues awards and 3 Grammy nominations throughout her career.  Her latest album is Flame Still Burns.  We'll also feature Rick Estrin & The Nightcats.  Rick's harmonica playing is over the top on his high-energy blues tunes.  Their latest album is Contemporary.  Blues is the essence of much of the American music genres, and we have the best here on the Coool CAT!