Sittin' In With The Coool CAT

Najee has had six #1 albums and five #1 singles land on Billboard charts throughout his career.  His artistry highlights his dynamic saxophone melodies and smooth flute work.  On this episode Najee sits down with multi-award winning program director Ray White to share his insights into his latest album Under The Moon Over The Sky and touches on launching his new record label and much, much more. ...

Two-time Grammy winner Gerald Albright joins us on this episode.  With saxophone being his main instrument, Gerald also plays a mean bass among other instruments, too.  He recently released his 24th career project with the EP titled Hot Chocolate!   Gerald's previous G-Stream series of releases was capped off with the dynamic Full Throttle project.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White c...

Rick Braun is a dynamic trumpet and flugelhorn musician who has won numerous prestigious awards and has played with a who's who in the music industry.  Throughout his career he's landed 30 #1 Billboard hits.  Award winning program director Ray White caught up with Rick in November of 2025 to talk about his latest album - Rick Braun Plays Chuck Mangione , his upcoming project with a good friend of...

Quintin Gerard W is known as the FnkySax Player and is a songwriter and producer who has released five albums since 2004.  He is a 3 time back-to-back #1 Billboard Contemporary/Smooth Jazz airplay charting artist.  On this episode we'll also be joined by the "Rising Star Guitarist," and son of Quintin... Lemek !  A winner of the highly competitive First Annual Guitar Solo contest at NAMM in 2020,...

Kim Waters , and his daughter Kayla , join us on this edition of our show.  Kim known as "The King of Smooth Urban Jazz," is an accomplished saxophonist with over two dozen albums to his credit.  Kayla is a pianist, singer and composer who has hit the contemporary jazz scene by storm.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with them backstage before their recent performance.  Ki...

Richard Elliot is a chart-topping, Grammy nominated, saxophonist whose solo creer was launched in the early 1980's.  His love for soul and R&B music led him to gigs with Smokey Robinson, Natalie Cole and The Pointer Sisters - just to name a few.  Nearing two dozen solo ablbums today, Richard sat down with multi-award winning program director Ray White to share his insights on his latest release St...

Contemporary jazz greats Rick Braun and Gerald Albright join us on our annual Coool CAT holiday special!  We'll also feature the legendary Herb Alpert , guitarist Steve Oliver , the amazing Pentatonix w/ Frank Sinatra , the ladies of Jazz In Pink and the soulful sound of Frank McComb !  Tis the season to celebrate and be thankful!!  Happy Holidays from Ray White and Lisa Davis.   For much more hol...

Keiko Matsui is an amazing keyboardist and composer who blends Western and Eastern music creating unique songs that stands out among contemporary jazz musicians.  She's released over two dozen albums throughout her illustrious career.  In our most recent interview, during 2024, show producer Ray White sat down backstage to talk with her about her latest album Euphoria , highlights of her worldwide...

20th anniversary of Classic Artists Today featuring our Coool CAT show, highlighting the most listened to episodes including interviews and more from Soul, R&B, Contemporary Jazz and Blues musicians.  We kick off this jam packed show with Mr. Sophisticated Soul himself - Will Downing (Episodes1 & 138).  We'll slide right into the high energy from an amazing Dutch saxophonist - Candy Dulfer (Episod...

Johnny Burgin is the blues, over and over again.  Playing close to 250 shows a year, this guitarist/vocalist from Mississippi has learned his trade in the blues capital of the world - Chicago.  During many years you'll find Johnny up for some of the most prestigious blues awards not only in the U.S., but worldwide.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White spent time with Johnny before one o...

Oli Silk is a contemporary jazz keyboardist, composer and producer.  In 2006, Oli was named Debut Artist of the Year by Smooth Jazz News magazine.  He's released 9 solo albums throughout the years and has 4 Billboard #1 tunes to his credit.  Multi-award winning program director, Ray White sat down with Oli in the Green Room before his show in December of 2024 and talked about the love his family h...

Multi-instrumentalist Vincent Ingala has vaulted towards the top of the contemporary jazz charts as a young gun in the music industry.  Since 2010, he's had eleven Billboard #1 hits and 23 of his songs have landed in the Top 10.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Vincent in December of 2024 to talk about the family vibe among smooth jazz musicians, several of his mentor...

You'll find Adam Hawley is consistantly towards the top of the smooth jazz charts as a musician/songwriter/producer.  Together, he's been involved with an incredible 17 Billboard Hits along with Artist of the Year and Song of The Year awards.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Adam in December of 2024, before he hit the stage, and conversed on his latest album Unstoppab...

Time to celebrate our 4th Best of The Coool CAT program.  We highlight the most popular episodes from #151 to #199.  The peoples choice were: Soul/R&B/Funk's Victor Wooten and his brothers ( The Wooten Brothers ) from Episode 155, keyboardist Guy Allison (The Doobie Brothers) gives his jazz slant and insights on Episode 160, and rising blues star Joanne Shaw Taylor was featured on Episode 170.  Yo...

Jason Jackson is a rising star among contemporary jazz saxophonists today.  Starting out in the house band at the House of Blues in South Carolina, he honed his skills in the U.S. Navy as a member of their band.  After his military service Jason hooked up with jazz guitar wiz Adam Hawley who helped launch Jason's first album.  Jason's latest release is Looking Up .  Hanging out with Jason, our mul...

Althea Rene , a flautist, hails from Detroit and plays a soulful type of contemporary jazz music.  You'll find her out playing from coast-to-coast and on several of the Jazz cruises.  She's released nealy a dozen albums throughout her illustrious career with her latest album titled 18 Carat .  You'll find many of her songs landing on the top smooth jazz charts worldwide.  In our November of 2024 i...

Paul Nelson , a Grammy award winning producer elevated his career as a guitarist /songwriter/producer for the legendary bluesman Johnny Winter .  Paul also played with many of the world's iconic guitarists including Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy.  A member of the New York Blues Hall of Fame, Paul left his mark on the blues genre.  A sudden heart attack, took Paul's life just a couple months after awa...

JJ Sansaverino is a high-energy guitarist that has had multiple Billboard charting songs over the past several decades.  With 5 solo albums to his credit, you'll find him touring throughout the U.S. in 2025.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White hung out backstage with JJ in November of 2024 to talk about the start of his dynamic career, playing at a mega-superstar's wedding, his Soul En...

Saxophonist Jeff Kashawa  has developed into one of the top smooth jazz performers since his days with The Rippingtons .  Back in 2004, he founded the dynamic band The Sax Pack .  As a solo artist, Jeff recently released his 11th studio album.  In our August of 2024 interview, multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Jeff backstage to talk about his latest, South American infl...

Four80East hails from Canada and plays a unique style of electro-jazz.  Their debut album hit the charts back in 1997 and they have built a dedicated following ever since.  The band has scored several top-ten hits and you can find them playing at festivals and clubs throughout the U.S.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Four80East's Rob Deboer and Tony Grace in August o...

Eric Marienthal is a multi-award Grammy winning saxophonist in the jazz and pop world.  As a solo artist, he's released well over a dozen albums since the 1980's.  In addition, you'll find him on releases by Chick Corea's Elektric Band, Big Phat Band, The Rippingtons, Brian Culbertson and David Benoit, just to name a few.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Eric, playing...

Saxtress Paula Atherton has had numerous songs on the smooth jazz charts during recent years, featuring her dynamic sax, flute and vocal work.  Having released 7 albums throughout her career, this Long Island native can be found touring throughout the U.S. for much of the year.  In her December of 2024 interview with multi-award winning program director Ray White , Paula touches on her early days...

Marc Broussard , singer/songwriter/guitarist grew up around music as his dad is an acclaimed musician, too.  They're both in the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.  Marc's career launched on the national scene with his 2004 album Carencro , featuring his Bayou Soul style music mixing the great sounds of funk, blues, R&B, rock and pop.  He's performed for many of the late night TV shows during his caree...

Anders Osborne , born in Sweden, has spent many of his years in the deep south of the USA.  Touring throughout the country since 1995, his music has elements of Blues, Americana and R&B.  Throughout the years he's recorded 17 studio albums as a solo artist.  You'll typically find Anders performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.  He consistently is tapped for Offbeat's "Best of the Be...

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 featur...