Rick Braun is a dynamic trumpeter, composer and producer with over 20 #1 smooth jazz hits. Along with his 15 plus studio albums, you'll find Rick collaborating with Richard Elliot, Boney James and Kirk Whalum & Norman Brown in BWB. On this episode multi-award winning program director Ray White hangs out with Rick backstage and they discuss Rick's latest album Rick Braun, upcoming plans, collaborations and his many special events. Other interviews and much more from Rick can be found on Episodes 2, 136 and 158. Lisa Davis, your "Hostess with the Mostest," brings you the latest from Mindi Abair, Alexander Zonjic & James Lloyd along with Brian Simpson, whose latest album is Solid Connection. Get in the groove...on this episode from Classic Artists Today's Coool CAT!
Eric Essex is an incredible contemporary jazz guitarist who has released 29 full length albums since the late 1980's. During his early years he recorded four well received albums and earned a degree from Berklee College of Music. A Warner Brothers distributed label signed Eric in 1998 and his career took off. In the early 2000's, he launched his own record label and scored numerous radio hits. Multi-award winning program director Ray White hooked up with Eric in November of 2022 and talked about his self-taught playing style during his early years, the time period when his career took off, launching his own record label and his latest album STRiDE and much more. Lisa Davis shares the latest from Jeff Lorber Fusion and Canadian electro jazz band - Four80East, during our showcase segment. Gonna Be Alright is the latest release from Four80East. The hottest contemporary jazz artists are featured right here on the Coool CAT!
Joanne Shaw Taylor is a blues guitarist/vocalist/songwriter to keep your eyes on! Her career has skyrocketed since hanging with Joe Bonamassa and Dave Stewart. With over 10 albums released, you'll find her songs charting with each new album. In 2010, Joanne won Best Female Vocalist at the British Blues Awards. In February of 2024, multi-award winning program director Ray White "zoomed" with Joanne while she was finishing up a tour in the U.K., preparing for her Spring of 2024 tour in the U.S. She provided insights into her rising star music career, hooking up with Joe and Dave, her new album Heavy Soul and much more. In our showcase segment Lisa Davis dives into the latest from Joe Bonamassa - who released Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 in 2023, blues and boogie icons Foghat whose latest hot album is Sonic Mojo and bluesman Tinsley Ellis who just dropped Naked Truth. The best in blues... it's the Coool CAT!!
The Grainger Brothers are two of the hardest working musicians around. From the Baltimore, Maryland area Gary (Bass) and Greg (Drums) can be found as the rhythm section for Acoustic Alchemy and for the Paul Reed Smith band. They also lead their own bands including Grainger, Pockets and several tribute ensembles. Their latest work is with Paul Reed Smith Eightlock. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up backstage with Gary and Greg at the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival in October of 2023 to talk about the Eightlock band and several other projects they've recently worked on and are on the horizon. Also catch them on Episodes 83 and 115. In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis features an awesome guitarist Drew Davidsen who just released his latest album Power Trip and the Grammy nominated vocalist (also from the Baltimore area) Maysa whose Music For The Soul album has garnered numerous awards during the past year. R&B, Soul and Smooth Jazz - you'll find the best on the Coool CAT!
Phil Perry is among the elite R&B singers in the country. In the R&B Hall of Fame, his vocal talents can be heard on albums by Dave Grusin, George Duke, Najee, Chaka Khan, Fourplay and many more. Phil's solo career has been filled with over a dozen marvelous albums. In this interview, from November of 2014, Coool CAT's Ray White caught up with Phil before he took the stage. We touched on numerous memorable times in his career starting with his days in The Montclairs, several of his collaborations, insights into GRP Records, and his albums - Say Yes and A Better Man. A triple shot of super artists are highlighted in our showcase segment. Your "Hostess with the Mostess" Lisa Davis, closes out the show with the latest on Ledisi (whose brand new album is Good Life), Charlie Wilson and Kenny Lattimore, who's latest release is Here To Stay. Hear more from Phil on our Episode 82. R&B at it's finest...right here on Classic Artists Today's Coool CAT!
Jay Beckenstein co-founded Spyro Gyra in 1974, and ever since the group has been among the elite music bands in contemporary jazz. Throughout the years the band has garnered numerous Grammy nominations and was tapped for the prestigious George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award. Multi award-winning program director Ray White hung out with Jay at his hotel in July 2023 to talk about Spyro Gyra's latest album - Vinyl Tap, their new keyboardist , evolutions in the music industry and much more. In our showcase segment, your "Hostess With The Mostest" Lisa Davis, features the Jeff Lorber Fusion - who recently released The Drop and the phenominal bassist Brian Bromberg, whose latest album is The Magic of Moonlight. You'll get the hottest "classic" artists and the best in contemporary jazz, from 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!