The stylish retro sensibilities of Little Charlie & the Nightcats, as seen on That's Big , set the band apart from the rest of the contemporary blues scene. This Sacramento sensation fuses the jazzy swing of jump blues with the hard-driving propulsion of the classic Chicago sound. It's a volatile mixture held together by the powerful personalities and even more potent playing of harpist and singer Rick Estrin and guitarist Charlie Baty. Baty's fluid guitar excursions power a wide-ranging selection of original songs by Estrin, all reinforced with strong harmonica work. There's less of the band's trademark humour 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 some additional 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 and he even contributes an original song, "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 moment. A cameo appearance from James Harman on the title tune, a blues appreciation of full-figured females, rounds out the album. --Michael Point