Little Charlie and the Nightcats
A Talk with a Hardworking Blues Crew

April 20, 2002 -- Get one thing straight from the get-go: Little Charlie isn't the frontman of Little Charlie and the Nightcats. That guy dancing around and cutting up and blowing the harp like a madman is actually Rick Estrin. Charlie Baty is the unassuming fellow with the Gibson hollow-body guitar strapped on, playing it like the master that he is.

A sampling of the new album, That's Big! "Desperate Man" "Bluto's Back" "Steady Rollin' Man"

"I can't sing and play guitar at the same time," Baty tells Scott Simon for Weekend Edition Saturday. The situation has "caused all kinds of confusion over the years," Estrin adds.

The music itself is pretty straightforward, if filled with lots of wry lyrics and arch observations. The Nightcats are a jump blues outfit in the tradition of James Cotton and Little Walter. They add some jazz tinges here and there, and maybe a few country blues or rockabilly licks, but for the most part, you know where these guys are coming from.

Their ninth album That's Big was recently released on Alligator Records.

It's a fine album, but this is a band that's most comfortable on the road. "I still get a big thrill every time I hit the bandstand," says Estrin.


Additional Resources

• Alligator Records' Little Charlie page

E-mail this Page

 

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes    No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes    No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes    No
(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)