Sittin' In With The Coool CAT

Bill Heller has been the keyboardist for the innovative contemporary jazz group, The Rippingtons , for over two decades.  Also in-demand as a session musician, Bill has many projects under his belt  during his music career.  A talented songwriter and producer, he has released two solo albums including his recent project Passage .  Coool CAT's award-winning program director, Ray White , caught up w...

Pieces of a Dream celebrates 45 years in 2021, bringing audiences the best in contemporary jazz and R&B.  Co-founder Curtis Harmon beats the skins and provides the backbeat for their awesome sound.  22 of the bands albums have landed on the charts with the latest being On Another Note .  Coool CAT's executive producer Ray White caught up with Curtis in February of 2012 talking with him about his r...

Paula Atherton can consistently be found towards the top of the smooth jazz charts, showcasing her talents on the saxophone, flute and on vocals.  In the past 5 years she's emerged as a star in this music genre.  On this episode, multi-award winning program director Ray White catches up with Paula before she takes the stage to talk about the development of her music career, her latest #1 hit "Summ...

Ivan Neville , the son of Aaron Neville , has been on the national music scene since the mid-1980's having played with The Rolling Stones and Bonnie Raitt.  After releasing several solo albums, he launched the band Dumpstaphunk - whose first project was released in in 2007.  This "phunky" band has a new album out titled Where Do We Go From Here .  On this episode Classic Artists Today's executive...

Ken Knox , of Chairmen of the Board , has played a key role in the band for over 40 years.  The vocalist/songwriter/leader, is fronting the band into their 5th decade of pleasing audiences everywhere.  Inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 1999, the band was formed in Detroit in 1967.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Ken in May of 2018, just before th...

Bob James is a giant among Jazz musicians today.  Discovered by Quincy Jones in the early 1960's, Bob has been tapped for almost every jazz award in that music genre.  Along with his extensive solo work, Bob has collaborated with well over a hundred other musicians on recording projects.  He's also received worldwide acclaim with his group Fourplay , who has released over a dozen albums -with the...

Jonathan Butler is a multi-nominated Grammy singer-songwriter and guitarist who hails from Cape Town, South Africa.  12 of his albums have landed on the Top 20 charts in the jazz category.  Many more on the R&B and Gospel charts.  Jonathan sat down backstage with award winning program director Ray White , in December of 2010, to talk about his So Strong release, his holiday tour, the changes in So...

John Oates ' musical roots draws from his early days growing up in Philadelphia.  He cut his teeth on Soul, R&B, and Blues music.  The guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer hooked up with Daryl Hall (signing with RCA Records in 1972), to become arguably the most successful duo in Pop/Rock history.  John didn't record his first solo album until 2002.  Releasing nine to date, these album...

Kirk Whalum has a total of 12 Grammy nominations with 1 win to his credit.  This jazz saxophonist and songwriter has toured or recorded with the likes of Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Bob James and BWB .  Kirk was the inaugural jazz legend honoree of the National Museum of African American Music.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White sat down with Kirk before he took the stage to tal...

Lonnie Listen Smith has played with many of the iconic jazz pioneers throughout his career.  Launching his own band, The Cosmic Echoes, he recorded a number of albums regarded as classics in the fusion, smooth jazz and acid jazz genres.  Lonnie's talents on keyboards and piano can be found on several dozen albums throughout his illustrious career.  Award-winning program director Ray White sat down...

Mark Wenner has led The Nighthawks since they launched in 1972.  An outstanding harmonica player and vocalist, Mark has had some super talented musicians in the band throughout the years including Warren Haynes, Jimmy Hall, Jimmy Thackery and Jimmy Nails.  The blues and roots music played by The Nighthawks withstands the test of time.  Award-winning program director Ray White caught up with Mark b...

Paul Jackson, Jr . name is at the top of the list for projects looking for an accomplished guitarist.  Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Elton John and Dave Koz are just a few of the world-class acts he's played with.  Paul's an accomplished composer, arranger and producer, too.  He's recorded 8 solo albums during his career that touches on urban/fusion jazz and R&B.  Multi-award winning program d...

Gordon Bahary has had a marvelous musical journey teaming with music legends Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis and many others.  His keyboard and synthesizer work transcends several music genres including R&B, Jazz and World Music.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White talks with Gordon, in November of 2012, about his musical mentors, his current album Unbreakable and his early...

Candy Dulfer , Brass Construction and Shaun Murphy join us on Best of the Coool CAT - Volume 2.  Interviews and much more from these stalwarts of Soul, Funk, Contemporary Jazz and Blues!  A great sampler of our Sittin' In With The Coool CAT syndicated radio shows | podcasts.  Hear the entire shows from our most listened to episodes (from 51 to 99):  Candy Dulfer (Episode 056), Brass Construction (...

Karen Briggs is known internationally as a virtuoso violinist with an eclectic range of musical styles.  She's appeared in nearly two dozen music video concerts and recordings and has several solo releases.  You may have seen this "Lady In Red" in the fantastic Yanni concert "Live From The Acropolis."  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Karen in June of 2012 to talk abou...

Bettye LaVette was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2020, after launching her career in 1961 with a song that landed on the Top 10 of the R&B charts.  Throughout her career she's combined elements of Soul, Blues, Rock and Roll, Funk, Gospel and Country music in a way that's made her very unique as a vocalist.  Besides recording, Bettye had a six-year run on Broadway.  She's been nominated f...

Grammy nominee Richard Elliot had his musical breakout when he joined Tower of Power in the mid-1980's.  Throughout the years he's been at the forefront of the contemporary jazz scene.  Richard's released over 20 albums during his career, including a handful that hit #1 on the charts!  In our March of 2015 interview, multi-award winning program director Ray White sat down with Richard backstage to...

James Lloyd , co-founder of Pieces of a Dream , has a dynamic on-stage presence that has excited fans worldwide since 1976.  Influenced by the late Grover Washington, Jr., the band has released 20 studio albums throughout the years.  Every single one has landed on the music charts!  Besides his extraordinary keyboard skills, James is also a producer and songwriter.  Coool CAT executive producer, R...

Dave Alvin , singer/songwriter and guitarist, landed on the national music scene as a founding member of The Blasters in 1979.  Throughout the years he's concentrated on his solo career, leaning towards Blues and Americana music.  In 2001, Dave won a Grammy for his Public Domain album.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Dave before his show in Asheville, NC, in June of...

Everette Harp got a boost early in his career when he toured with Teena Marie, in 1988.  He released his first solo album between tours with George Duke and Marcus Miller in 1992.  This Grammy nominated saxman has released 9 solo albums with his latest titled First Love .  In 2014 he helped to launch the super group Jazz Funk Soul , who has since released 3 albums - the latest named Life and Times...

Melissa Manchester , Singer/Songwriter/Actress, has won a Grammy and was nominated for two Academy Awards during her career.  24 of her singles have landed on various music charts.  In this special 2020 holiday show, Melissa talks about her recent Christmas songs, duet with the legendary Al Jarreau, and provides other insights into her stellar career.  Multi-award winning program director Ray Whit...

R&B and Jazz drummer Norman Connors is also an accomplished composer and producer.  During his career he's played with Pharoah Sanders.  Norman's 16 solo albums , with 11 Top 100 hits, featured various vocalist including Michael Henderson, Phyllis Hyman and Dee Dee Bridgewater.  Musicians, who used their stint with Norman who went on to launch their own successful careers included Norman Brown and...

Spyro Gyro's Jay Beckenstein has been a mainstay in the band since its formation in 1974 as saxophonist/composer/producer.  Spyro Gyra has been nominated for 12 Grammy awards during their storied career.  The band has released 29 studio albums since their inception.  Award-winning program director Ray White caught up with Jay before his performance with Spyro Gyra in July of 2012 to talk about the...

Brian Simpson sits among elite contemporary jazz pianists and composers.  He's played with the top musicians from jazz and R&B including Janet Jackson, George Duke, Dave Koz, Chuck Loeb and Michael Brecker.  Multi-award winning program director, Ray White , sits down with Brian before a show in December of 2018 to talk about his Something About You release and the expansion of his writing style an...

Randy Jacobs , guitarist/band leader/music director, cut his teeth working with many at Motown as a youth.  In the 1980's he was a member of the eclectic pop band Was (Not Was).  Following that stint, Randy was in-demand by many of the popular music artists of the day.  In 1994 he formed his own band - The Boneshakers, combining R&B, Soul, Jazz, Rock and Pop.  Most recently, Randy's Boneshakers co...