Sittin' In With The 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...

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 Wh...

Norman Brown is a guitarist who's been called "a culmination of Jimi Hendrix and George Benson with some Wes Monthgomery thrown in," by Jazz Times magazine.  His prowness as a musician and genre-bending facility has made him one of the most sought after internationally renowned musicians in contemporary jazz!  Multi award-winning program director Ray White caught up with Norman after his performan...

This year we feature the amazing Jonathan Butler and guitarist Randy Jacobs , founder of The Boneshakers , who are winding down the 2023 Dave Koz Christmas Tour.  They'll provide insights into their recent holiday projects as we finish up the year with our celebration.  In our showcase segment, we bring you more holiday cheer from Joe Bonamassa with Dion , jazzman David Garfield with Tom Scott and...

Dave Koz is among the elite saxophonists and entertainers in the music industry today.  Throughout the year you'll find him on his global sea cruises, with his "Summer Horns" or out on his Christmas Tour - headlining with other world-class musicians.  Throuhout the years, Dave's been nominated for numerous Grammy awards in the "Best Pop Instrumental Album" category.  Multi-award winning program di...

Brent Carter has been the lead vocalist for the Average White Band since 2011.  Before then, he was the frontman for Tower of Power .  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Brent backstage to talk about his days with Tower of Power and how he hooked up with AWB .  He also shared his insights on Average White Band's latest sudio album - Inside Out .  Will the band release on...

Bob James , is known worldwide as a premier composer/producer/keyboardist.  A multi-Grammy award winner, Bob was also bestowed with the George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.  Ray White , the CAT's multi-award winning program director, caught up with Bob backstage before his concert to talk about his early years in music, changes in recording technology through the decades and his lates...

Guy Allison , keyboardist/composer/producer, is best known as a touring member of The Doobie Brothers for 19 years.  His career started off in jazz having secured a place in the coveted Monterey All-Star Jazz Band.  Through the late 1970's and today, you'll find him in several rock bands, but returned to jazz on his excellent latest album - A Designed Presence .  Multi-award winning program direct...

Eric Benet has talent that transcends the music industry.  The four-time Grammy nominee is also gifted in the areas of acting, producing and business.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White sat down backstage with Eric to talk about his music and diverse interests and television projects during their June of 2023 interview.  In our showcase segment your "Hostess with the Mostest," Lisa Da...

Rick Braun is a dynamic trumpeter, composer and producer with over 20 #1 smooth jazz hits.  Along with jazz, you'll find him collaborating with rock/pop superstars like Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Tom Petty and REO Speedwagon too!  During COVID he launched the highly successful Rick's Cafe Live show.  On this episode, multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Rick backstage in Ju...

Jimmy Bo Horne played an integral part in defining dance, disco and popular music during the 1970's.  More than a half-dozen of his songs hit the charts through 1980.  The Top 10 hit, "Dance Across The Floor," was certified double gold.  With Jimmy having been featured on American Bandstand and Soul Train, multi-award winning program director Ray White talks with him about those experiences along...

Willie Bradley , a two-time Grammy nominee, is a trumpeter who's steadly worked his way towards the top of the charts.  In 2021, Beats Magazine named Willie their "Jazz Artist of the Year."  Coool CAT's Ray White caught up with Willie who provided insights into his career launching days, his latest album - It's My Time and upcoming album, too!  In our showcase segment, your Hostess with the Mostes...

The Wooten Brothers (Victor, Roy, Joseph and Regi) have played music together since their early years.  in 1985, they released The Wootens on Arista Records, which launched their careers collectively and individually.  Today you'll find them touring together when bass phenom Victor is not touring or in the studio, Joseph isn't on the road with Steve Miller Band, Roy's not playing (with Victor) in...

Alex Bugnon has been a mainstay and energetic force on the contemporary jazz scene for over three decades.  His global appeal to listeners and his piano stylings can be found on nearly a dozen albums released throughout the years.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White hung out with Alex in June of 2022 and talked with him about his record labels, his special relationship with Blues Alley...

Brian Lenair stands out among many contemporary jazz sax musicians by playing straight saxophones.  Starting his career over 25 years ago, he caught notice of fans and jazz aficionados alike as a member of the group Spur of The Moment .  In 2004, Brian released his first solo CD and has also played with the likes of George Benson, Grover Washington, Jr., Al Jarreau, Will Downing and many more.  Aw...

Mel Waiters , a southern soul stalwart musician, was a singer/drummer who passed away on May 28, 2015.  It's fitting that we look back on his career from his days as a DJ, entertaining our troops and his recording years from the 1970's until his passing - including his last studio album True Love .  In our showcase segment your "Hostess with the Mostest" Lisa Davis , completes this tribute episode...

Boney James , saxophonist/songwriter/producer is among the elite contemporary jazz performers of his time.  He is a 4-time Grammy nominee and in 2009, Billboard magazine named him one of the Top 3 Contemporary Jazz Artists of the Decade.  His latest album Detour , is a chart-topping album that takes a subtle stylistic turn from his previous commercial releases.  Multi-award winning program directo...

The late (and great) Nick Colionne ( Episode 118 ), Bill Heller of the Rippingtons ( Episode 113 ), bass legend Jeff Berlin ( Episode 143 ) and bluesman Tab Benoit ( Episode 133 ) are featured on this very special episode!  Your "Hostess with the Mostest," Lisa Davis , and show creator and producer, Ray White , share highlights from Episodes 101-149, as we celebrate our 150th show.  So here we go....

Marcus Anderson is a Grammy nominated saxophonist whose career has included performing with Prince and Stevie Wonder along with many others.  With 15 albums on his list of accomplishments, the fusion jazz artist brings R&B, Pop, Rock and Funk together to make his awesome sound.  During November, 2022 multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Marcus before his performance to tal...

Jeanette Harris is a rising star among smooth jazz saxophone players.  A Berklee music school graduate, with a half-dozen albums out, you can find Jeanette playing fesivals and venues worldwide.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Jeanette in June of 2022 as she was coming off stage to talk about the early years of her career, collaborations and her latest album Saxathro...

Frank McComb is a vocalist/keboardist/producer that's collaborated with Prince, Chaka Khan, George Duke and many others.  He's received several music industry accolades throughout his career.  Whether it's Soul, R&B, Smooth Jazz or Gospel, you'll find Frank right in the mix.  Multi-award winning program manager Ray White spent time with Frank talking about his transition from working with a major...

Elan Trotman is a Barbados born saxophonist who blends caribbean rhythms with his skillful horn textures.  You'll find his music in several movies, supporting a who's who of vocalists and playing the national anthem at numerous sporting events.  Coool CAT producer Ray White caught up with Elan before he hit the stage in November of 2018 to talk about his Barbados Jazz Excursion fund-raising event,...

Najee , a chart topping saxophonist and flutist, is a contemporary jazz pioneer.  The Grammy and NAACP award-winning musician has been one of the brightest starts in the genre for nearly four decades.  Coool CAT's producer, Ray White , sat down with Najee in November of 2022 who talked about his latest album Savoir Fare - that was produced during Covid and utilized technology to bring the musician...

Keiko Matsui is an internationally acclaimed pianist and composer whose sonic cultural exchange has reached the hearts and minds of fans throughout the world.  She's released over two dozen solo albums and many more in collaboration with other musicians, who are a "who's who" in the music industry.  In our June of 2022 interview, Keiko shares the behind the scenes story of the making of her latest...

Jeff Berlin is one of the most innovative electric bassists of the 20th and current centuries.  Known for his unique tone, jaw dropping technique and dynamic approaches to the bass, he's helped establish the electric bass as a solo instrument well deserving of its place in modern music.  He's released a dozen solo albums and you'll also find him on albums by Herbie Mann, Patti Austin, Ester Philli...