There is no definition for it in the dictionary.

Some say it is only legend.

Late at night though, if you listen above the howl of the wind, you can hear it -- sometimes.

It's the elusive Jumpin' Mud Cat.

Only four men preach the ways of the mud cat, acolytes in the church of the blues. The four members are Pete Sheridan (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Pete Rugh (guitar, vocals), Jim Baughman (bass, vocals) and B.K. Bastress (drums, vocals).

These men gathered together a year and a half ago to form yet another blues band. But these guys are different from Queen Bee & The Blue Hornet Band, AAA Blues Band, Bob Hideycat and the Groovy Boots or any of the other blues bands in town. Actually it is safe to say they are different from almost any other band in town.

They're quiet.

Yes it is possible to hold a conversation and listen to the Mud Cats at the same time -- quite unusual for a State College band. Most bands in town believe in the "louder is better" theory of volume control and set their knobs past 10 to "watch their ears bleed."

"If people can still talk we must be doin' it right," Rugh said.

But they said playing quietly can be difficult sometimes, especially at bars packed with obnoxious drunk people.

"It makes it hard to play places like the 'Skeller where there are people and loud noise," he added.

Another difference that sets the Jumpin' Mud Cats apart from other blues bands is the style of blues they play. While Queen Bee and Bob Hideycat play blues-rock, the Mud Cats play jump-and-swing-oriented, Chicago-style blues, Sheridan said. With roots in the late '40s and early '50s, swing blues has a different kind of feel.

"It's the Mississippi blues updated electrically," he added.

That means no horns or piano --just two guitars, bass, drums and a wailing harmonica. There's a lot of harmonica actually -- 27 to be precise.

"I've got two for every key and a spare," Sheridan said.

The guys put all their instruments to good use, too. With a solid rhythm section and smooth guitar work, the Mud Cats pump out solid 12-bar blues. Which isn't to say they don't make mistakes, but they have a sense of humor when it comes to those little gaffes.

"If you hit a wrong note once it's a mistake. If you hit it twice, it's jazz," Rugh joked.

The four members said their love of the blues as well as their personal friendships keep the band together. Bastress and Sheridan met as students at the University about 20 years ago, when they played in bands around town. Rugh and Sheridan met in 1989 as members of the Blind Robbins. At that time, they also met Baughman, and he got in touch with them when he found out about the formation of the Mud Cats.

"We find that if you don't get along on a personal level, it's hard to play great music," Sheridan said.