[1] When he was 18, he toured with the rock band Santana, then signed with Delmark to record his first solo album, Cut it Out (1988), with trumpeter Ira Sullivan.

Cut It Out was chosen for album of the year lists by the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Weekly, and JazzTimes.

Catalano has worked with Louie Bellson, Tony Bennett, Randy Brecker, Charles Earland, Kenny Loggins, Jimmy McGriff, Arturo Sandoval, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, and Clark Terry.

His device was patented on December 11, 2001, on the second anniversary of the death of his mentor, Charles Earland.

!, which features a tandem tenor session with Von Freeman, and Live at the Green Mill with Randy Brecker on trumpet.