UPPER LAKE, Calif. – On Saturday, Jan. 21, the popular and versatile guitarist Little Charlie Baty and his trio called Organ Grinder Swing will be performing in the Meeting House next to the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.

This is the second in the hotel’s 2017 series of informal “Concerts with Conversation.”

Charlie Baty is best known as leader of Little Charlie and the Nightcats, an acclaimed blues band dating back to 1987.

Although no longer with the Nightcats, Baty has recently recorded and toured to high acclaim with the Golden State Lone Star Blues Revue.

Now based in Davis, Calif., Baty knows the Tallman and Blue Wing well, having performed with the Nightcats at the annual Blue Wing Blues Festival and with a small group performing the gypsy jazz music of Django Reinhart in the 2013 Tallman Concert series.

“Charlie is a pro’s pro on the guitar and a wonderful personality,” said Tallman owner Bernie Butcher. “It’s an honor and pleasure to have him back to perform in Lake County with his new trio.”

This organ trio venture has been one of Baty’s lifelong personal ambitions since encountering the music of the legendary Jimmy Smith, who popularized the organist/guitarist combination in the late 1950s.

Smith catapulted the jazz organ trio into another dimension, and set the standard for that ensemble configuration.

Joining Baty in the Organ Grinder Swing trio are J. Hansen on drums and Lorenzo Farrell on Hammond organ. Both are former Nightcats bandmates, so the personal and musical chemistry is always present.

“We recently produced a CD called Skronky Tonk,” said Baty, “containing some of the tunes I’ve been itching to record for many years. The album got a top 4-Star review in Downbeat Magazine and it’s been in the top 25 of the Blues Radio charts for the last 3 months.”

Tom Lincoln of Lincoln-Leavitt Insurance in Lakeport is co-sponsoring the Jan. 21 Tallman Concert.

“It’s a pleasure to help bring this world class trio to Lake County,” said Lincoln. “Charlie performed at my 40th birthday party – several years ago! – and I’ve been hooked on his music ever since.” 

The Tallman Concert Series continues on Feb. 18 with pianists Wendy DeWttt and Steve Willis, on March 18 with country star Rita Hosking and on April 8 with Bob Culbertson on the Chapman Stick.

The Baty trio concert on Jan. 21 starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Meeting House next to the Tallman Hotel.

Tickets at $25 plus tax may be purchased by calling the Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.

Coffee and cookies are served prior to the show.