Adam Hawley, Paula Atherton and Vincent Ingala join us on our 8th Annual Holiday Special, brought to you by your friends at Classic Artists Today. Great insights and well wishes from these dynamic contemporary jazz musicians, along with their christmas music of course! You'll hear from the phenominal Dave Koz too, as his 27th Annual Christmas Tour (with Friends) is underway. We'll also feature the keyboardist/music director/producer West Byrd whose latest album is A West Byrd Christmas. While you're in the holiday mood, be sure to listen to our other fantastic holiday shows on Episodes 26, 52, 72, 93, 117, 141 and 164 too!! Peace, Love and Happiness from Ray White - Lisa Davis and the Coool CAT.
Jonathan Butler is an amazing vocalist and guitarist who is at the top of his game in the contemporary jazz and gospel genres. Playing publicly as a child in South Africa, he's gained worldwide attention throughout the years, landing on the music charts starting in 1985. Multi-award winning program director Ray White sat down with Jonathan in December of 2023, while out on Dave Koz's Christmas Tour, to talk about his career musical highlights, his homeland, unique guitar sound and his latest album Ubuntu. In our showcase segment, your hostess with the mostest Lisa Davis features saxman Richard Elliot whose latest album is Straight Up Down and closes out the show with the talented trumpet player Tom Browne who just released the single Impulse. World-class contemporary jazz featured on one of the country's premier 30-minute shows - Sittin' In With The Coool CAT!
George Porter, Jr. is one of New Orleans' music royalty! A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award member, he was co-founder of the phenomenal Funk/Soul/R&B/Blues band The Meters. You'll find him as an integral member of The Funky Meters, too! Today George's legacy is continuing to be made heading up the Runnin' Pardners Band, whose latest album is Crying For Hope. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with George before taking the stage with his band in May of 2024 to talk about highlights of his esteemed career and his latest projects. You'll find more from George on our Episode 57. In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis highlights the latest from another legendary musician, Steve Cropper, who just released Friendlytown. The show closes with a tour-de-force, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, who recently released their album Struck Down which is receiving rave reviews. Getting to the heart of the matter, on this episode of the Coool CAT!!
Brian Bromberg is among the elite bass players in the world today. Playing both acoustic and electric basses, he's a world-renowned record producer too. Iconic saxman Stan Getz hired Brian, at the age of 19, and his career took off from there. Throughout his illustrious career, he's released over 2 dozen albums and has played with a who's who in the music industry. You'll also find Brian playing on well over a dozen movie soundtracks. Multi-award winning program director, Ray White, talks with Brian backstage about his latest albums: The Magic of Moonlight (electric bass) and LaFaro (acoustic bass) and much more! An amazing man and musician...we have him here on the Coool CAT!! In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis features another virtuoso - Robby Krieger, who played in the legendary band The Doors. He's recorded several instrumental albums during his career and his lastest is titled Robby Krieger and the Soul Savages. Two iconic musicians featured on this episode, brought to you by your friends at Classic Artists Today.
England's Chris Standring is a superb guitarist whose had over a dozen Top 10 contemporary jazz hits with a half-dozen reaching Number 1. Moving to the United States in 1991, Chris has become a prolific performer playing throughout the country. Coool CAT's producer Ray White caught up with Chris in May of 2024 to chat about his musical influences, insights into his younger days in England and he gives us an update on his new album As We Think - which touches on various sub-genres of contemporary jazz music. Our show hostess Lisa Davis features the one and only Boney James, whose latest album is Slow Burn, along with the amazing Dave Koz in our showcase segment. Contemporary jazz rules on this episode from the Coool CAT!
Pieces of a Dream have been playing great contemporary jazz, R&B and funk music since forming in 1976. Releasing over 20 albums, you'll find tunes on the top music charts throughout their illustrious career. On this episode, multi-award winning program director Ray White catches up with Curtis Harmon, James Lloyd and their newest official member Tony Watson, Jr. to talk about Tony's history with the band, James' recent health scare, their latest album Fired Up! along with their future plans. You'll hear much more from the band on our Episodes 30, 96, 112, 130 and 140. Lisa Davis, your "Hostess with the Mostest," showcases a rising star on the smooth jazz scene - saxophonist Jason Jackson, who released All In in 2022 and you'll find his latest single on several smooth jazz charts now. Our groove just won't quit, on the Coool CAT!
Tab Benoit is an amazing blues guitarist/singer/songwriter hailing from Louisiana Since the early 1990's Tab has released well over a dozen albums and has won numerous blues awards, keeping a busy touring schedule too. Be sure to listen to more from Tab on Episode 133. Music aficionado and Classic Artists Today's founder Ray White caught up with Tab backstage before his show in July of 2024 to talk about his new album I Hear Thunder, which was his first in 13 years. He also shared insights with singer/songwriter Anders Osbourne and about the late Leon Medica of Louisiana's LeRoux , and the band Anthony Rosano & the Conqueroos, and much more. In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis looks back at the storied career of the "Godfather of British Blues" - John Mayall, who passed away on July 22, 2024. Nothin' but the blues on this episode of the Coool CAT!
Bassist Christian de Mesones has honed his musical skills throughout his adult life while working various jobs to make ends meet. In 2021, this rising star garnered the attention of Dave Koz and landed on several jazz charts and Sirius XM's Watercolors. His latest album is You Only Live Twice and features his first #1 hit. Multi-award winning program director, Ray White, traveled to Metro Washington, DC's Birchmere venue to sit down with Christian before his show to talk about the new album, his life's twist and turns and his music. You'll find more from Christian on Episode 166! Lisa Davis, your "Hostess With The Mostest," highlights the latest from R&B/Soul singer Leela James who released Thought U Knew in 2023. She also has the spotlight on the legendary duo of Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin, whose latest album is Brazil and saxophonist extraordinaire Walter Beasley whose new single Funk Foot just dropped. Contemporary Jazz with a touch of R&B/Soul on this show from your friends at the Coool CAT!
Lao Tizer is a keyboardist/producer who blends together elements of various genres of music in developing his own brand of contemporary jazz. His band members comes from multiple music backgrounds which makes Lao's band unique in many ways. With over a half-dozen albums released since the early 1990's, he can be found playing festivals and shows throughout the country. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Lao backstage during June of 2024 to talk about his career, work with Special EFX's Chieli Minucci and his brand new album Amplify. Two other great contemporary jazz musicians are also featured in our showcase segment. Grammy award winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum - whose latest release is Epic Cool and also bassist Gearld Veasley, who played with Grover Washington, Jr. in the early 1980's. His latest single is Groovitivity. The cutting edge of contemporary jazz is right here on the Coool CAT!
Chieli Minucci formed Special EFX with George Jinda in 1982. With George's passing, Chieli has carried on the great music and heritage of the band and incorporated some of the top contemporary jazz musicians and vocalists in the country for his live shows and some albums. In June of 2024 Coool CAT's producer, Ray White, caught up Chieli out on tour to talk about his Return To Budapest With Love concert recordingm his new single Cool Summer, the all-star concept, and his work on movies and T.V. Be sure to catch more from Chieli on Episodes 61 and 131. Lisa Davis showcases Incognito and Streetwize in our showcase segment. Their latest albums are titled In To You and Lift Me Up, respectfully. We kick it up a notch on this episode - where "Old School is New School...Again" on the Coool CAT!!
Guitarist Steve Oliver has been a mainstay on the contemporary and smooth jazz charts for over 25 years. During this period he's landed over a dozen songs in the Top 20. His dynamic live performances have ignited fans from coast-to-coast. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Steve at the 2023 Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival to talk about his latest album, A New Light, that showcases his deep passion for memorable compositions, jazz intricacies, pop melodies and world influences. Steve also shares several highlights of his career including touring with Acoustic Alchemy. Lisa Davis closes out the show with three fantastic musicians! Pianist David Benoit recently released Timeless, Saxophonist Paula Atherton whose Moonlight Drive single just dropped, and rising star Blair Bryant whose latest tune is Summit. This episode falls right in the groove for super contemporary jazz sounds! From your friends at the Coool CAT!
Saxophonist Steve Cole launched his national music career in 1998 when his first album release was produced by contemporary jazz stalwart Brian Culbertson. Growing up in Chicago, Steve brings elements of bebop, pop, funk and gospel to his contemporary jazz platform. He's also been on-stage or recorded with jazz and blues legends like: Larry Carlton, Buddy Guy, Jeff Lorber, Junior Wells and many more. Steve shares with producer and music aficionado Ray White insights on his latest album Without A Doubt and his album produced during COVID, titled Smoke + Mirrors. He also provides an update on his all-star collaboration, The Sax Pack. Lisa Davis, features 3 awesome artists in our "showcase segment." She kicks things off with the amazing vocalist Lalah Hathaway, whose latest album is Vantablack, followed by guitar wiz Norman Brown who recently released It Hits Different. Then she closes out our show with the critically acclaimed trumpeter/flugelhornist/vocalist Rob Zinn who just released the single "Until I Met You." A jam packed episode from some dynamic musicians... yep, it's the Coool CAT!
Randy Jacobs grew up in the Motown city launching a career as a songwriter and guitarist. As a member of Was (Not Was) in the early 1980's he honed his musical skills. In the early 1990's Randy played on an album of all-star musicans called Soul Mission. Shortly afterwards, he formed The Boneshakers. Randy shares his insights with award-winning program director Ray White talking about the start-up of the band, teaming with saxophonist/vocalist Mindy Abair, playing with the legendary Bonnie Raitt, serving as music director for a jazz legend, and The Boneshakers latest album One Foot In The Groove - which was #1 on U.S. Soul Blues chart and #1 on a U.K. Blues chart. In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis features 4-time Grammy winner Delbert McClinton, whose latest album is Outdated Emotion. She also highlights the 2-time Grammy nominee Kenny Wayne Shepherd that released Dirt On My Diamonds Vol. 1 in 2023. Great blues musicians are laying it down on this episode from the Coool CAT!
Ivan Neville grew up with music from his relatives including his uncles Charles, Art, Cyril and of course his Dad - Aaron. Throughout his years Ivan's recorded five solo albums and four more with his band Dumpstaphunk. You'll also find him playing on many New Orleans based compilation albums and films. You may not know that Ivan has also recorded with several music legends including The Rolling Stones, Rufus, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt and the Spin Doctors. Multi award winning program director Ray White caught up with Ivan during his soundcheck to talk about his new solo album Touch My Soul and also the latest with Dumpstaphunk. In our showcase segment, your "Hostess with the Mostest" Lisa Davis features four-time Grammy award winner Tom Hambridge who can be found on projects by Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Johnny Winter and dozens more! He's a "go-to" drummer and producer for many other super artists, too! Tom's latest solo album is Blu Ja Vu. Great vibes on this episode of the Coool CAT!!
Nathan Mitchell is a rising star in contemporary jazz and soul music genres. A composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Nathan is Grammy nominated and has three #1 Billboard songs so far in his career. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Nathan during rehearsal in November 2023 to capture his insights on his music, success and plans moving forward. His brand new album is Gentle and Smooth. In our showcase segment your "Hostess with the Mostest" Lisa Davis features former LSG member with 6 #1 hits as a solo artist - Keith Sweat, who just released his latest single "Lay You Down." Cutting edge artists...we have them on the Coool CAT!
Lindsey Webster, a jazz, R&B, and Pop singer, has been gaining worldwide fame, since launching on the national music scene in 2013. This rising star's first single "Fool Me Once," reached number one on the smooth jazz charts making her the first vocalist since Sade to have a #1 vocal song in the primarily instrumental format. Lindsey's landed a half-dozen Top 5 hits on the charts. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Lindsey before soundcheck in November of 2023 to talk about the music scene in her hometown of Woodstock, NY, her latest album - Reasons and relaunching of her You Change CD. In our showcase segment, Lisa Davis features Brian Culbertson, who has had a dozen #1 hits on the smooth jazz charts. His latest release is The Trilogy - Part 3: White. We close out this episode with Grammy award winning saxophonist Gerald Albright, who just released his G Steam 3 - Full Throttle EP. Go with the flow when you hang with the Coool CAT!
Greg Carmichael is a co-founding member of the Grammy award nominated contemporary jazz group, Acoustic Alchemy. SInce the mid-1980's the band has released over 20 albums. Multi-award winning program director Ray White went backstage at the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival in October of 2023, before the band hit the stage, to talk to Greg about the unique beginning of the band, their current line-up and he also provided insights into the groups latest album - 33 1/3. In our showcase segment, your "Hostess with the Mostess" Lisa Davis features Chris "Big Dog" Davis whose worked with many smooth jazz musicians as a producer on numerous Top 10 hits. Chris takes the spotlight himself as keyboardist/producer on his new album, After The Storm. We're laying down a Coool CAT groove on this episode!!
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!