Coool CAT Episode 016 - Ronnie Baker Brooks

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.  The best in blues... it's the Coool CAT!! 

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.  R&B, Soul and Smooth Jazz - you'll find the best on the Coool CAT!

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.  Hear more from Phil on our Episode 82.  R&B at it's finest...right here on Classic Artists Today's 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 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.   You'll get the hottest "classic" artists and the best in contemporary jazz, from the Coool CAT! 

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 White in November of 2023, as he came off stage, to talk about his band, shows, recordings and the latest happenings in his career.  Excellent insights!  In our showcase segment, your "Hostess With The Mostest" Lisa Davis features multi-instrumentalist/Vocalist Paula Atherton whose latest single is Dancin' Shoes.  We close out this episode with the Grammy nominated pianist Bob Baldwin, who recently released B Positive.  Another dynamic show from your friends at Coool CAT! 

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 performance who provided his insights into his latest album Let's Get Away, growing up in Kansas City and the music scene there, the latest with BWB and collaborating with the great saxophonist Gerald Albright.  You'll find more from Norman on Episode 62.  Lisa Davis, your "Hostess With The Mostest," closes out 2023 with two artists who were high on the contemporary jazz and blues charts during the year.  Brian Culbertson who had several awesome songs on his The Trilogy - Pt. 3: White album and Susan Tedeschi, an awesome guitarist and vocalist, who just released her Just Won't Burn (25th Anniversary) CD.  Finishing another fabulous year here on the Coool CAT!! 

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 too!  Listen to more celebrations of this wonderous time of year on Episode 52, 72, 93, 117 and 141!!  A gift from Ray White and Lisa Davis to you, from the Coool CAT family!!!  

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 director Ray White caught up with Dave on his 2022 Christmas Tour to talk about his recent albums; The Golden Hour with Cory Wong and A New Day.  His latest album is A Romantic Night In.  Dave's certainly a leader within the Smooth Jazz genre!  In our showcase segment, your "Hostess with the Mostest" Lisa Davis, features Billboard charting guitarist David P. Stevens, who released his album Rogue in 2022.  We close this show with Incognito, the British jazz and soul stalwarts whose new album is titled Into You.  Fresh new highlights in the smooth and contemporary jazz world - right here on the Coool CAT!!

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 one more album before calling it a day?  Brent will share his thoughts on that too!  Your "Hostess with the Mostest," Lisa Davis, closes out the show featuring the awesome band, Tower of Power!  Their latest studio release is titled Step Up.  Get up on your feet and shake your booty on this episode, brought to you by the Coool CAT!!

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 latest album - Jazz Hands.  In our showcase segment, our own Lisa Davis features the awesome contmporary jazz guitarists, Nils, whose latest album is Cool Shades.  The very best in Contemporary Jazz, right here on the Coool CAT!