Dear John, We are all saddened to learn of the passing of Little Charlie Baty. He and the Night Cats brought a whole lot of humor and fun to the Blues for many years. He managed to stay plenty busy after leaving the band and going into "retirement." Who can forget his appearance at Blues Blast 18 with Andy T's band? A sad day indeed. R.I.P. Our 30th annual festival, newly dubbed Phoenix Blues & BBQ Festival is upon us and ticket sales have been brisk. Still plenty left. Go to www.brownpapertickets.com to save a few bucks before day of show. We are taking extra steps to insure sanitary conditions prevail throughout the day in lieu of the Covid-19 scare happening all over the world. PBS has every nickel it owns invested so please Make Your Plans!! Rain coming this week. And clear skies are forecast for the show. Hugs to all. Have a week!! Sincerely, Jim Crawford - PBS |
Little Charlie by Michael Limnios Guitarist and bandleader Charles Baty of Little Charlie & the Nightcats is one of the most inspirational figures in West Coast Blues. Last year Baty created his own combo 'Little Charlie And Organ Grinder Swing'. This project has been a dream of Charlie's for quite a while now and it's finally here with their debut album 'Skronky Tonk' (2016). Almost hidden in the semi-anonymous confines of a touring blues band, Baty -was born in Alabama in 1953- is a masterful player whose talents easily reach beyond a traditional low-key, 12-bar existence. The story ofSacramento-based blues, swing and jump combo Little Charlie & The Nightcats began back in the early 1970s when Charles Baty--a harmonica-playing UC Berkeley student--first met Rick Estrin. With Rick already an accomplished harp player, Baty decided to switch to guitar full-time and the two formed a blues band. After relocating to Sacramento, Baty quickly reinvented himself as a take-no-prisoners, one-of-a-kind guitarist. With the addition of a drummer and a bass player, Little Charlie & The Nightcats were born.In early 2008, Baty announced he was entering "soft" retirement, no longer tours with the band, except for possible reunion shows in Europe and select North American festivals. Baty was as a special guest on JW-Jones, Bluelisted (2008), an album which marked the first time in his career that he documented his harmonica playing on a recording, and the first time he and another West Coast blues musician, Junior Watson, had recorded together on the same tracks, and in Mark Hummel's album The Hustle is Really On (2014) with Anson Funderburgh and Kid Andersen. There is no mistaking Charlie's creative blues guitar playing as he is truly tops in this field. Charlie always played some jazz tunes with the Nightcats, which has led him where he is today. This record finds him in one of his favorite settings, ina organ jazz trio.His former Nightcat band mates, Lorenzo Farrell on Hammond organ and J. Hansen on drums join him on this swinging project. This record showcases jazz, ballads and blues all done with Charlie's unique guitar stylings.What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?By learning how to play blues on the guitar and harmonica, I've learned how to express myself musically in a variety of musical styles - blues, jazz, swing, gypsy jazz, even Brazilian choro music - because I was able to learn how to play by ear, listen to other players, and play as a part of a group. The blues is a way of communicating through music, showing your emotions - whether happiness or sadness - in a musical manner and hopefully entertaining the audience while doing this.How do you describe Charles Baty sound and songbook? What characterize your music philosophy?I would say that the Charles Baty sound is a swinging, aggressive, happy, relentless approach to music and the songs in my songbook range across musical styles, but are mostly vehicles to stretch out and solo in different styles - again blues, jazz, swing, gypsy jazz - but always keeping a blues feel and a sense of humor. My musical philosophy is that there is much to be learned from the great musicians of the past and their legacy should not be forgotten. It is good to immerse one in the sound of a master, like Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, or T-Bone Walker - and try to find ideas and approaches that are similar but not identical to theirs. It is more important to play melody than demonstrate prowess on any instrument.Which is the most interesting period in your life? Which was the best and worst moment of your career?I think that the present is the most interesting period of my life. To be able to play music that I love with different groups and different settings is a dream come true. Just a few years ago I played jump and swing and blues with Duke Robillard while in Hawaii, then came home to California and played jump blues with Mark Hummel one night and the very next night I was playing gypsy jazz with my own combo. It's refreshing to keep on changing one's hat and to keep being musically challenged. The best moment in my career was Muddy Waters telling me on stage that he liked my sound. The worst moment of my career was when my wife died and I had to take time off from music because of sadness. What's the best jam you ever played in? What are some of the most memorable gigs you've had?One of the most fun jams was in 1988 in New York, when Albert Collins came to a Little Charlie and the Nightcats gig and played on two sets with us. We played a really scary gig in Australia one time in the middle of a sugar cane field with strange creatures around us in the cane (deadly frogs and snakes), a giant bonfire inside the room that we were playing, and a giant fight broke out amongst the sugar cane workers. I was sure that we were going to die! I've done some gigs with Mark Hummel and other fine harmonica players, and on one of these gigs I heard Sugar Ray Norcia play the best onica that I'd ever heard in my life. It was extraordinary!Are there any memories from 'Skronky Tonk' studio sessions which you'd like to share with us? The great organist Jim Pugh came down to listen and offer encouragement to our organist Lorenzo Farrell. We recorded hours of music and had a great time, recording many alternate takes and songs that weren't used on the CD. Sometimes it is necessary for Lorenzo Farrell to play a keyboard with an organ setting on gigs, but the sound of a real Hammond B-3 through a Leslie speaker is the best possible sound and that is what we used. Our drummer J Hansen wanted to play percussion on some tracks, and ended up playing bongos on one song. cont'd next week |
GOT BLUES? If you are a Blues musician, a group, or a club that features Blues music, and would like to be listed, please send your info to info@phoenixblues.org and we'll be happy to list your event in our weekly Out & About section of the newsletter
|
Moved? Changed email addresses? Please let us know of any changes in your address, email, or phone number so we can keep you informed about the Blues community in Arizona. Email us at: info@phoenixblues.org or write to: Phoenix Blues Society P.O. Box 36874 Phoenix, Arizona 85067 |
|
| Out & About Tuesday, March 10 Sugar Thieves Trio, 8:30 p.m., Kazimierz, Scottsdale Carvin Jones, 6:30 p.m., Dirty Blonde Tavern, Chandler Wednesday, March11 Hans Olson, 7 p.m., Time Out Lounge, Tempe Chuck Hall, 6 p.m., Corrado's, Carefree Thursday, March 12 Sugar Thieves, 2 p.m., Casa Del Rio Senior Living, Peoria Mike Eldred, 6 p.m., Mountain Shadows Resort, Paradise Valley Eric Ramsey Hosts OPEN MIC, 6 p.m., Fatso's Pizza, Phoenix Hans Olson EVERY THURSDAY, 6 p.m., Handlebar, Apache Junction Arizona Blues Project, 8 p.m., Harold's, Cave Creek Friday, March 13 Rocket 88s, 7:30 p.m., American Italian Club, Phoenix Hoodoo Casters, 6 p.m., 12 West Brewing, Mesa Leon J, 12:30 p.m., Ostrich Festival, Chandler Sugar Thieves Duo, 7 p.m., Spokes on Southern, Tempe Carvin Jones, 4 p.m., Robert Emmets Food & Spirits, Glendale Saturday, March 14 Riley/Corritore Juke Joint Blues Band, 9 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix Big Daddy D & The Dynamites, 7 p.m., Rt. 66 Roadhouse, Bellmont Hoodoo Casters, 7 p.m., Rags, Youngtown JC & The Rockers, 7 p.m., Handlebar, Apache Junction Blues Review Band, 7 p.m., Fire Rock Country Club, Fountain Hills Leon J, 11 a.m., DA Ranch, Cornville BluZone, 7 p.m., West Alley BBQ, Chandler Outback Blues Band, 6 p.m., Colorado River Blues Festival, Parker Carvin Jones, 8 p.m., Green Room, Flagstaff Sunday, March 15 Hans Olson, 5 p.m., Marriott Canyon Villas, Phoenix JC & The Rockers, 2 p.m., River Bottom Bar, Florence Sugar Thieves, 3:30 p.m., Scottsdale Arts Festival, Scottsdale Leon J, 1:30 p.m., Ostrich Festival, Phoenix Carvin Jones, 6 p.m., Desert Eagle Brewing Co., Mesa True Flavor Blues, NOON , Copper Star, Phoenix Monday, March 16
|
Jams Sunday Rocket 88s JAM (OFF THIS WEEK), 4 p.m., Chopper John's, Phoenix Bourbon Jack's JAM w/Kody Herring, 6 p.m., Chandler The Scott O'Neal Band JAM every other Sunday, The Windsock, Prescott MONDAY Bam Bam & Badness Open JAM, 9 p.m., Char's, Phoenix Weatherford Hotel JAM, 6:30 p.m., Flagstaff TUESDAY OPEN JAM Hosted by Jilly Bean & The Flipside Blues Band, 7 p.m., Steel Horse Saloon, Phoenix JAM Sir Harrison, 9 p.m., Char's, Phoenix Gypsy's Bluesday Night JAM, 7 p.m. Pho Cao, Tempe Tailgaters JAM, 7 p.m., Glendale WEDNESDAY Rocket 88s, JAM, 6 p.m., The Last Stop (Old Hideaway West), Phoenix Tool Shed JAM Party, 6 p.m. Gabby's, Mesa JAM @ The Bench, Hosted by BluZone, 7 p.m., The Bench, Tempe THURSDAY Tool Shed JAM Party, 7 p.m., Steel Horse Saloon, Phoenix Jolie's Place JAM w/Adrenaline, 9 p.m., Chandler Friday Saturday |
|
|