Coool CAT

06/28/2024

TONIGHT!

The 54th Annual Hampton Jazz & Music Festival is finally here! Here’s what to expect for Friday’s lineup:
• MusicbyKem
• Ledisi
• Christone "KINGFISH" Ingram
• Special EFX featuring Chieli Minucci with special guests Lao Tizer, Elliott Yamin, Brian Bromberg, and Eric Marienthal.

06/18/2024

A little Spring Cleaning today. Been to hundreds of festivals & industry shows throughout the years. Here's a few...

06/18/2024

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. Listen to Episode 176, on-demand, at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com and on streaming audio services and our syndicated radio stations, too!

06/12/2024

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." In our featured section, 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 .Listen to Episode 175 on-demand at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com
and on many streaming audio services and our radio affiliates.

06/06/2024

Happy Birthday to the the awesome singer Gary US Bonds! Have a super day!!

06/03/2024

Smokey Robinson at the IndyCar race today in Detroit.

05/31/2024

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." Listen to Episode 175 on-demand at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com and on many streaming audio services and our radio affiliates.

05/29/2024

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. Listen on-demand to Episode 174 at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com

05/20/2024

Greg Carmichael is a co-founding member of the multi-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. Listen to Episode 173, on-demand, at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com

05/19/2024

George Porter, Jr. and Runnin' Partners.

05/19/2024

George Porter Jr.

05/05/2024

Join me in wishing a Happy Birthday to Miguel Cortes who compiles our CAT music charts!

04/16/2024

Congratulations to the phenomenal Boney James! He joins us on Episodes 77 & 151. https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/boney-james-20th-number-one-smooth-jazz-airplay-chart-1235657187/amp/ Listen as he hangs with us at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com

Boney James earns his 20th No. 1 on the Smooth Jazz Airplay chart thanks to his feature on Big Mike Hart's "Cigar Lounge."

04/15/2024

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. Listen to Episode 172, on-demand at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com

04/10/2024

Tonight in Virginia Beach!!

< Tour update v2>
Catch us on the road…
More info .com

#感謝　 #松居慶子

04/03/2024

Paul Nelson, a guitarist/record producer/songwriter won a Grammy award for Best Blues Album in 2015 for Johnny Winter's Step Back release. Paul's played with the elite guitarists in the world and was a phenomenal guitarist himself. He produced albums and toured with Johnny Winter for several years until Johnny passed in 2014. Working with many of the blues and rock greats, he also found time to release several of his own projects. In November of 2023, multi-award winning program director Ray White hung out with Paul to talk about his guitar training, several of his projects and hooking up with Johnny Winter. I was sad to learn that Paul passed away on March 10, 2024, while out on tour. He was a great talent that will be missed by many. We hope you'll enjoy one of his last interviews and the awesome work from Paul on this insightful Episode 171. Listen on-demand at http://sittinginwiththecat.libsyn.com

04/02/2024

Listen to Eric Essex, a great smooth jazz guitarist, as he joins us on Sittin' in with the Coool CAT! Listen at https://www.podpage.com/sittin-in-with-the-coool-cat/coool-cat-episode-171-eric-essex/ and on many other streaming audio services, too!

This show features interviews with legacy bands and performers from Soul, R&B, Smooth Jazz, and Blues genres. Ray White, multi-award nominated host of Classic Arti…

04/01/2024

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. Listen to Episode 171, on-demand, at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com

03/27/2024

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. Listen to Episode 170, on-demand, at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com

03/10/2024

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. Listen to Episode 170, on-demand, at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com

02/28/2024

Virginia Beach...tomorrow night...Joe Bonamassa comes to town at Sandler Center!!

02/28/2024

Just finished an awesome interview with the amazing blues rock guitarist/vocalist Joanne Shaw Taylor. She kicks off her eastern U.S. tour in Virginia Beach, VA on March 29, 2024. Stay tuned...interview and show coming soon!!

02/25/2024

As we head towards Spring...some super "new" songs on this week's Top 44 CAT Chart!!

02/24/2024

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. Listen, on-demand to Episode 169, at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com

02/23/2024

Happy Birthday to the late, great Johnny Winter : Rock N' Roll Legend!

02/23/2024

Too 20 song for saxman Matt Willard!

02/12/2024

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. Listen to Episode 168, on-demand, at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com Hear more from Phil on our Episode 82, too!

02/11/2024

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. Listen to Episode 167, on-demand, at http://sittinginwiththecooolcat.libsyn.com