Louis Cato, TV late night bandleader, offers ‘Reflections,’ a new album of ‘laid bare, honest’ songs

NEW YORK — Musician and producer Jack DeBoe recalls the time many years ago when he fully grasped the sheer musical ability of his new friend, Louis Cato. You can’t be mad at them for that.” Cato’s remarkable musical gifts are on show this summer with his second album, “Reflections,” which turned into a way to express himself while his regular day gig as bandleader of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” is quiet because of the Hollywood strike. “It was important for me to have a cover on the record, just one where I sort of take that approach.” It might seem as if Cato can play anything — a musical octopus — but he’s quick to point out there are some instruments that baffle him, like when he tried out his sister’s oboe as a kid. And I didn’t have that kind of attention span to be perfectly honest.” Cato has been part of Colbert’s “Late Show” from the start. James Taylor is a frequent visitor, someone Cato calls “a titanic, creative, superpower.” Cato’s love of music was shown early, when his mother brought home a drum set when he was 2.