Sittin' In With The Coool CAT

Will Downing is Mr. Sophisticated Soul, having recorded 25 albums over the past 35 years.  His distinctive baritone voice has attracted fans worldwide and carved a unique niche in Soul and R&B music.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White sat down with Will after his soundcheck to talk about his two latest albums Sophisticated Soul and The Song Garden , his radio show - "The Wind Down" an...

Adam Hawley is an awesome guitarist, composer and producer.  During his emerging career, this "rising-star" musician has already had eleven #1 hits!  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Adam after soundcheck in June of 2022 to talk about the beginning of his career, supporting many major stars in the music business, musicians who have influenced his career, his work as a...

Rick Braun is one of the world's premier trumpet players.  He also plays flugelhorn and other instruments too and has released 19 albums since 1992.  His collaborations, R&R and BWB, has broadened his appeal among contemporary jazz fans.  Also a composer and producer, Rick has over 20 #1 smooth jazz hits during his career.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White sat down backstage with Ric...

Eric Gales started playing guitar in blues competitions when he was 11 years old.  By the time he was 16, he secured a major recording contract.  Guitar World named Eric the "Best New Talent" in 1991.  He also performed with Carlos Santana at Woodstock '94.  Over the years Eric released 19 albums and you'll also find him on many compilation releases.  Many consider him one of the top guitarists in...

Paul Taylor has developed a stellar career of over 25 years blowing smooth jazz sounds on his alto and soprano saxophones.  All 12 albums he's released has landed on Billboards's Top Jazz Charts.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White hung out with Paul in June of 2022 to talk about his latest album And Now This , recording all musicians on the new album remotely, his creative partner Din...

Tab Benoit is a master of the delta blues.  An amazing guitarist, you'll find him on many of the "best of" lists as one of the top guitarists living today.  Since the early 1990's he's released over a dozen albums and, along with a Grammy nomination, Tab has won several Blues Music Awards .  Tab's also been a strong advocate for environmental issues and was featured in the IMAX film "Hurricane on...

Nelson Rangell is a superb saxophonist and also outstanding playing the piccolo.  As a student he won Best Jazz and Best Pop/Rock instrumental soloist in Down Beat magazine's National Student Recording Awards.  Nelson's career took off in the late 1980's when he signed with GRP record company.  In November of 2021 Ray White , producer of Coool CAT , caught up with Nelson before taking the stage to...

Chieli Minucci co-founded Special EFX in the early 1980's, producing excellent compositions that blended Latin Rhythm and Contemporary Jazz music.  Solo or with Special EFX, Chieli has released nearly three dozen albums throughout his career.  You'll also find his guitar work on songs by Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Lionel Hampton, Marc Anthony and many more superstar artists.  In our November o...

James Lloyd is keyboardist and co-founder of Pieces of a Dream .  He was only a senior in high school when his first album was released.  James also has written and/or produced songs for dozens of other recording artists aside from Pieces.  You'll find performances by him on television and film too.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with James in January 2000 to talk about...

Maysa Leak is at the top of her game as one of the leading R&B/Jazz female vocalists today.  She's been honored as a recipient of many awards including Soul Train's first Centric Award in 2009 and garnered her first Grammy nomination in 2014.  In 2018, Maysa became the founder/owner of her own record label, Blue Velvet Soul Records.  Her latest release is Music For Your Soul .  In November of 2021...

David Benoit is a three-time Grammy nominated pianist who has charted over 25 albums since 1980.  He has arranged, conducted and performed music for many popular jazz and pop artists including David Sanborn, Patti Austin, Kenny Loggins and Brian McKnight.  In our December of 2012 interview with David, he shares with our executive producer Ray White insights on his early career, his recording days...

Dan Kuramoto co-founded the contemporary jazz band Hiroshima , featuring Japanese instruments, in 1974.  Throughout the years the band has been nominated for several Grammy awards and received two Gold albums.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White , sat down backstage with Dan in November of 2021 to talk about the storied career of the band that launched in Los Angeles.  Their latest alb...

Chuck Brown , The Godfather of Go-Go , left this world on May 16, 2012.  On the 10th anniversary of his passing, we celebrate his legacy on this episode.  Chuck launched a subgenre of funk music that has a beat that just won't quit!  This Grammy nominated vocalist and guitarist was, in many ways, as unique as the legandary James Brown .  Multi-award winning program director Ray White   sat down wi...

Bassist Gerald Veasley landed on the national music scene in 1988 working with Weather Report's Joe Zawinul.  In the early 1990's Gerald started to release solo albums on a regular basis, which now totals nearly a dozen.  You'll also find him on other recordings including those by Grover Washington, Jr., Chuck Loeb, Special EFX and B.B. King.  Ray White , producer of syndicated radio shows and pod...

Marion Meadows is a saxophonist and composer whose sound is grounded in contemporary jazz and adult contemporary rhythm & blues.  Since 1990, Marion has consistantly been on the smooth jazz charts.  Coool CAT's Ray White caught up with Marion right before his set at the Jazz Legacy Foundation's Gala in November of 2021 to talk about his first musical instrument, changes in the music industry since...

Guitarist David P. Stevens is a funky, dynamic and exceptionally creative artist with a unique sound of his own and 8 solo albums under his belt.  David recently earned his masters degree from Berklee College of Music.  He's shared the stage with the best in the music business.  In November of 2021, David hung out with award-winning program director Ray White to talk about his early years playing...

Gearld Albright launched his solo career as a saxophonist in 1987, releasing his first solo album.  In addition, this 8-time Grammy award nominated musician has appeared in various television programs.  Gerald collaborates with many other jazz musicians too, including the all-star cast of Summer Horns .  Multi-award winning program director and radio producer, Ray White , talks with Gerald about h...

Ronnie Baker Brooks has blues in his blood.  He's the son of legendary bluesman Lonnie Brooks .  In 1998, Ronnie launched his solo career.  Right out of the gate he was nominated for a Blues Music Award.  With 4 solo albums to his credit, Ronnie has elevated his stature to the top level of the blues world.  His latest solo project is Times Have Changed .  Award-winning producer and and program dir...

Saxman Will Donato can be found on dozens of albums by contemporary musicians throughout many music genres.  His music is also present on soundtracks from serveral movie scores.  Award-winning program director and radio programmer Ray White sat down with Will in November of 2021, before he hit the stage, to talk about his big break in music, headliners he's supported earlier in his career, and ins...

Nils is one of the most successful guitarists in contemporary jazz.  His accomplishments include "Song of the Decade" 2001-2010, "Song of the Year" in 2011 and numerous hits at the top of the Billboard Smooth Jazz charts.  He's also provided his skills as a songwriter and producer to others including George Benson, Brian Simpson and Lisa Addeo.  In addition, you'll find Nils creating music for TV...

Nick Colionne is one of contemporary jazz's most tireless and explosive live performers.  He's the only musician in the history of the smooth jazz format to score five consecutive #1 hit singles on Billboard from a single album - The Journey (listen to our Episode 006 .)  He's certainly one of the top jazz guitarists today!  National award-winning program director Ray White sat down with Nick, in...

Najee , a native of New York City, was among the early musicians to incorporate R&B and Soul into jazz music.  Along with his dozen plus Top 10 albums, he has supported a who's who in the music industry including Prince, Herbie Hancock, Patti Labelle, Marcus Miller and dozens more.  Award-winning program director Ray White spent time with Najee in October of 2021. Najee provided insights into cont...

Ken Navarro , guitarist and composer, has created a 26-album catalog with numerous Top 5 hits at national radio along the way.  He launched his recording career playing with many of the greats including; John Patitucci, Dave Koz and Doc Severinsen.  Ken's latest album is I Will Still Be Here , which continues his string of excellent contemporary jazz recordings.  Your "Hostess with the Mostest" Li...

Greg Grainger , the drummer for Acoustic Alchemy , is known as one of the most dynamic musicians to come out of the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area.   His level of professionalism led to artists ranging from Whitney Houston to Lonnie Listen Smith tapping him on their projects.  Many know Greg as a member of Pockets , who recorded for Columbia Records in the late 1970's.  You'll also find him keepin...

Roomful of Blues have been blending blues, soul, boogie-woogie, swing and jump blues music since 1967.  They've garnered five Grammy nominations and secured seven Blues Music Awards throughout their storied career.  Past members have included: Duke Robillard (Episode 65), Curtis Salgado, Sugar Ray Norcia and Al Basile.  Award-winning program director Ray White caught up with band leaders Rich Lata...