Little CHARLIE And The Nightcats - Nine Lives 2005

Little CHARLIE And The Nightcats - Nine Lives 2005

Blues

Nine Lives is Little Charlie & the Nightcats' tenth album (counting a live one and a best-of) for Alligator Records. Guitarist Charlie Baty, Rick Estrin on harmonica, and a new rhythm section of J. Hansen on drums and Lorenzo Farrell on bass are all solid, road-tested professionals, capable of delivering blisteringly heavy instrumentals like the one that closes this album ("Slap Happy" is easily the best track here). The strong playing would have been enhanced by a fresh vision and some variations on the prevailing theme of a hard-working, hard-drinking simple man who has trouble with women, spends (or loses) all of his money, and seems generally amazed at it all. Everything here sounds fine, however.
By Steve Leggett. AMG.
**
Rusty Zinn- Vocals Background  
Ronnie James Weber- Vocals Background
George Zinn- Vocals Background 
R.H.Hairless- Vocals Background
Chris Siebert- Piano
Lorenzo Farrell- Bass
John Firmin- Sax Tenor
Scott Peterson- Sax Baritone
Little Charlie Baty- Guitar
Rick Estrin- Harmonica, Vocals.
**
01. Keep Your Big Mouth Shut 4:35
02. Handle With Care 5:02
03. So Good 3:43
04. Got To Have A Job 3:29
05. Circling The Drain 4:49
06. Don't Cha Do Nothin' 4:17
07. Cool Johnny Twist 6:21
08. Tag (You're It) 4:49
09. Quittin' Time 5:32
10. Deep Pockets 5:03
11. Wall To Wall 3:08
12. Sugar Daddy Sweet 3:17
13. Slap Happy 3:47
**
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Little CHARLIE & The Nightcats - That's Big 2002

Little CHARLIE & The Nightcats - That's Big 2002

Blues

The stylish retro sensibilities of Little Charlie & the Nightcats set the band apart from the rest of the contemporary blues scene. This Sacramento sensation, one of the most entertaining live acts in modern blues, fuses the jazzy swing of jump blues with the hard-driving propulsion of the classic Chicago sound. It's a volatile mixture held together only by the powerful personalities, and even more potent playing, of harpist-singer Rick Estrin and guitarist Charlie Baty. The dynamic duo struts its stuff on That's Big, as Baty's fluid guitar excursions power a wide-ranging selection of original songs by Estrin, all reinforced with strong harmonica work by the singer.

There's less of the band's trademark humor this time, as it seems more interested in hot licks than easy laughs. The instrumentals "Bayview Jump" and "Bluto's Back," the latter with guest guitarist Rusty Zinn providing extra firepower, showcase Baty's fretboard fluency to full effect. Estrin handles everything from the slow-moving, sax-reinforced "I'll Bet I Never Cross Your Mind" to the jaunty swing of "Money Must Think I'm Dead #2" with customary ease. The Nightcats' new rhythm section copes well with the demands of bouncing between times and styles. Drummer Joey Ventittelli is flexible but forceful, whichever direction the music moves, and he even contributes an original song, the album opener, "Real Love." Bassist Frankie Randall is featured in a duet with Ezrin on the standard "Steady Rollin' Man," but his acoustic walking bass lines on the hard-swinging "Bayview Jump" may be his best moments. A cameo appearance by James Harman on the title tune, a blues appreciation of full-figured females, rounds out the album.
By Michael Point.
**
Little Charlie Baty- Guitar
Rick Estrin- Harmonica, Vocals
John Firmin- Tenor (Vocal)
Nancy Hall- Vocals
"Icepick James" Harman- Vocals
Steve Lucky- Organ, Piano
Frankie Randall- Bass (Electric), Bass (Acoustic)
Chris Siebert- Piano
Rob Sudduth- Saxophone, Baritone (Vocal)
Rusty Zinn- Guitar, Vocals
**
01. Real Love (Ventittelli) 5:05
02. Weekend Off (Estrin) 4:09
03. Desperate Man (Estrin) 3:34
04. Livin' Good (Estrin) 4:09
05. That's Big (Estrin) 4:07
06. Bluto's Back (Baty) 4:05
07. I'll Never Cross Your Mind (Estrin) 4:17
08. I Know She Used to Be Your Woman (Estrin) 2:46
09. Money Must Think I'm Dead [#2] (Estrin) 3:27
10. Coastin' Hank (Estrin) 6:23
11. It Better Get Better (Estrin) 3:55
12. Bayview Jump (Baty) 4:27
13. Steady Rollin' Man (Miller) 3:21
14. Go on If You're Goin' (Estrin) 5:58
**


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Little CHARLIE & The Nightcats - Captured Live 1991

Little CHARLIE & The Nightcats - Captured Live 1991
Label: Alligator
Release Date: Dec 31, 1993

Blues

More dependable than a Swiss train, the band regales club audiences back home in Sacramento and San Francisco with old favorites and new titles. The shows catch fire when Baty refashions countrified Jimmy Bryant licks on his showcase "Wildcattin'" and pays homage to blues-jazzman Tiny Grimes here and there. Yet things drag considerably when the band tries to transport the audience to Chicago with a long version of Buddy Guy's "Ten Years Ago." Further, Estrin's vocals are full of unintentional affectation, the new bass player's fingers lack the surety of the man he replaced, and Baty bores with his Guy mannerisms.
By Frank John Hadley.
**
This is a high quality live album with great sound and energy. It doesn't matter what track you listen to, the group displays a high threshold of talent. No matter what you call their music, or how you label them specifically, the fact is, these guys are cookin! They have a big bass sound here (not taking anything away from anyone else in the group) for whatever reason (mix, indivdual talent, etc.) complimenting the music without getting lost in the background as the bass in most music. Instead of the bass being "featured", from time to time, it's there on every track. You can't help but move, or boogie listening to this album and the only way to describe them here is that they are HOT!
By Unknown.
**
Charlie Baty- (Guitar),
Rick Estrin- (Harmonica), (Vocals),
Brad Lee Sexton- (Bass),(Vocals Background),
Dobie Strange- (Drums).
**
01. Tomorrow Night (Live) 4:24
02. Run Me Down aka You've Got To Run Me Down (Live) 4:20 
03. Rain (Live) 5:16
04. Dump That Chump (Live) 3:44 
05. Ten Years Ago (Live) 12:35
06. Thinking With The Wrong Head (Live) 6:29
07. Wildcattin' (Live) 5:05 
08. Crawling Kingsnake (Live) 4:01
09. Smart Like Einstein (Live) 6:52
10. Eyes Like A Cat (Live) 4:15
**
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Little CHARLIE & The Nightcats - Shadow of the Blues 1998

Little CHARLIE & The Nightcats - Shadow of the Blues 1998
Label: Alligator

Blues

When it comes to jump blues, few contemporary outfits can match Little Charlie & the Nightcats. This is their eighth album for Alligator, with more of the lean, sparsely arranged, mostly original tunes that are the band's stock in trade. Lead singer/harpman Rick Estrin, who wrote most of the material, produces songs laced with wry wit. On top of that, he is one of the best blues harp players around. Estrin plays flawless chromatic and he can do Sonny Boy Williamson- style harmonica almost as well as the master himself. Guitarist Little Charlie Baty manages to blend the best of T Bone Walker and Charlie Christian with hot, modern-style phrasing. Choice selections include the title cut, the tongue-in-cheek "Big and Fat," and Charlie's tour de force, "Percolatin'."
By Lars Gandil.
**
Little Charlie & the Nightcats' seventh album for Alligator found the group at the top of its game, sharp songwriting combining with the expert playing of a group that has spent years on the road honing its craft. Rick Estrin's sleazy used-car-salesman-as-blues-singer persona comes shining through on his originals "Never Trust a Woman," "New Old Lady," and "Big and Fat," while Charlie Baty's guitar mastery is brought to the fore on the dazzling instrumental "Percolatin'." The title track is a great minor-key slow late-night piece, full of atmosphere and sporting great chromatic harp work from Estrin and a jazzy break from Baty. Down-home award-winner goes to the only cover on board, Arthur "Big Boy" Spires' "Murmur Low," which also features Estrin in the rare role of second guitarist. As always, the rhythm section of Ronnie James Weber on bass and June Core on drums provides swinging support throughout, and the addition on certain tracks of Jimmy Pugh on piano and organ is most welcome. The result is another solid album of modern-day blues served up by one of the genre's best working bands.
By Cub Koda.
**
A fantastic release from the modern masters of jump blues! I, like the other reviewers, am quite pleased with this CD. I agree with everything else that has been written about it, but I would like to mention a couple of high points for me. My two favorite tunes are New Old Lady, and Big And Fat. Is it just me, or is Big And Fat a tribute to Muddy's "I'm Ready"? Who knows? I love the lyrics on New Old Lady: "I got a new old lady, so doggone good to me....makes my old, old lady nothin' but ancient history." Also, on Big And Fat, at the end when it is starting to fade out, Rick says "wall to wall". That is just so cool! I love these guys. If Little Charlie or Rick Estrin or Ronnie or June, ever read this: Thanks for all the great music you have given the world. My life is better because of what you are doing!
By Chris Winter.
**
Little Charlie Baty- Guitar
June Core- Percussion, Drums, Maracas
Rick Estrin- Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
Jimmy Pugh- Organ, Piano
Ronnie James Weber- Bass
**
01. Never Trust a Woman (Alvin, Estrin) 5:07
02. New Old Lady (Estrin) 3:48
03. When Your Woman Is Gone (Alvin, Estrin) 5:49
04. You Got Your Hooks in Me (Estrin) 3:11
05. Big and Fat (Estrin) 4:13
06. You Don't Love Me That Way (Williamson) 3:20
07. Walkin' in the Shadow of the Blues (Estrin) 5:42
08. Got It Good (Esrtin) 3:19
09. Dirty Dealin' Mama (Alperin, Oscher) 4:23
10. Percolatin' (Baty) 4:18
11. I Don't Drink Much (Estrin, Weber) 4:46
12. Murmur Low (Spires) 3:16
13. You Got to Rock (Estrin) 4:22
**
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