by Bill Dahl & Stephen Thomas ErlewineChris Cain's crisp lead guitar and gravelly vocals have brought him national recognition. Influenced by B. B. and Albert King as well as various jazz players, Cain has cooked up a jumping sound on the Bay Area circuit.\r A native of San Jose, CA, Cain began playing California blues clubs in the mid-'80s, most notable the JJ's Cafe and JJ's Lounge South Bay circuit. Soon, his following was large enough to earn him a contract with an independent record label, Blue Rock'it. Cain's debut album, Late Night City Blues, was released in 1987. By this time, his backing band featured lead tenor saxophonist Noel Catura, bassist Ron Torbensen, saxophonist Mark Whitney, and drummer Robert Higgins. The album received good reviews, which led to national bookings for Cain and his band, as well as several European dates. In 1988, Cain and his band received a handful of WC Handy Award nominations, including blues band of the year and guitarist of the year. Cain signed to Blind Pig in 1990, releasing his second album, Cuttin' Loose, the same year. The guitarist stayed at Blind Pig for the next few years, releasing Can't Buy A Break in 1992 and Somewhere Along the Way in 1995. Cain and his band remained a popular concert attraction throughout the '90s.\r