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.  The hottest contemporary jazz artists are featured right here on the Coool CAT!

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!!