Little Charlie & The Nightcats - That's Big! (2002) Album

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• published: 25 Sep 2016
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Tracklist: 01. Real Love 02. Weekend Off 03. Desperate Man 04. Livin’ Good 05. That’s Big 06. Bluto’s Back 07. I’ll Bet I Never Cross Your Mind 08. I Know She Used To Be Your Woman 09. Money Must Think I’m Dead 10. Coastin’ Hank 11. It Better Get Better 12. Bayview Jump 13. Steady Rollin’ Man 14. Go On If You’re Goin’ Little Charlie & The Nightcats - That's Big! (2002) Album Although founders Little Charlie Baty and harpist/singer/songwriter Rick Estrin welcome two new cats on bass and drums, little else has changed on Little Charlie & the Nightcats' eighth studio effort, again on Alligator, the only label they have recorded for. While that could be a problem for some outfits, the music here is so perfectly conceived, well-written, and performed with cracking musicianship that only the grouchiest blues purist will complain they aren't breaking much new ground. Estrin's slimy, woman-distrusting, often comical delivery on his compositions -- such as "Desperate Man," "Livin' Good," and a duet with the equally non-PC West Coast singer/harp player James Harman trading quips on the title track -- make for a lighthearted listening experience. But clearly these guys can also play; Baty and guest guitarist Rusty Zinn's dueling hollow-body guitars on "Bluto's Back" and Estrin's chromatic harp solo on "Coastin' Hank" (two of the disc's three instrumentals) prove that the group's chops are as finely tuned as their ability to cut up and add a dose of levity to the usually ultra-serious blues. The occasional use of horns on four tracks injects a jazzy R&B; sensibility to the proceedings and fills out the sound. Zinn's vocal on "It Better Get Better" also takes the focus off Estrin, whose schtick starts to wear thin by the 12th track -- the album's lone cover -- a version of "Steady Rollin' Man," credited to Sonny Boy Williamson ll, who wrote these particular lyrics, not Robert Johnson. The group's roots in Louis Jordan's swinging jump blues are showcased in "Money Must Think I'm Dead" and even new drummer Joey Ventittelli gets a songwriting credit on the Chicago blues of the album's kickoff track, "Real Love," which features some lip-shredding, overdriven, electrified harp from Estrin. Band: Rick Estrin - harmonica/vocals Little Charlie Baty - guitar Frankie Randall - acoustic & electric bass Joey Ventittelli - drums Rusty Zinn - vocals/guitar James Harman - vocals John Firman - tenor saxophone Rob Sudduth - baritone saxophone Steve Lucky - piano/organ Chris Siebert - piano Buy on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ar/album/thats-big!/id5517872 Copyrights: - This video is exclusively for public information and entertainment only. - I don't derive any profit from this video. - The copyrights of the audio content, belong exclusively to the artist creator and to those who represent him.