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MITCH
KASHMAR "NICKELS & DIMES"
Source: Blues & Rhythm
Date: 09/2005
Writer: Brian Smith |
Mitch
is a new one to me, even though he has clearly been
around the USA’s West and North West Coasts for
many years. Mind you, the blurb here expresses the hope
that this disc might give him his long-deserved wider
breakthrough, so it is perhaps not only me who needs
some education as to his talents - which are considerable.
For
this worthy addition to his own burgeoning Delta Groove
roster, producer Randy Chortkoff has again gathered
a quality ensemble. Behind the leader’s fine
harp and vocals are West Coast stalwarts Bob Welsh
on ivories, Richard Innes (drums), long-time Nightcat
Ronnie James Weber (electric and acoustic bass) -
and above all, the wonderful Junior Watson on guitar,
a mark of quality to enhance any project.
Mitch
also wields a mean pen, offering up seven of the songs
here and with an eye for some wry one-liners. Thus,
in the terrific shuffle opener, the well trodden “Woman
I’ve gotta put you down” theme becomes
“I’m gonna buy me a flat stick and scrape
you off my shoe” (that tells her!), whilst the
funky title track bewails the fact that his life-savings
occupy just “a shelf in a piggy bank”.
Of the others, Johnny Guitar Watson’s “Whisky
Drinkin’ Woman” stands out, along with
fine own-pen guest-spots from Arthur Adams and Abu
Talib (who, as Freddy Robinson graced Walter’s
band and whose haunting Lizzie Mae, featuring only
him & the leader, changes the pace beautifully).
But, there is genuinely not a bad track on here and,
in a neatly programmed and varied set, the frequent
harp and guitar solos are by turns punchy, swinging
and grinding, but above all short enough to leave
you wanting more – which you get anyway in abundance,
in the instrumental closer.
Chortkoff’s
production is an object lesson in warmth and clarity,
to which many others (who ought to know better) should
be made to listen.
Fans of West Coast blues probably only need to glance
at the line-up for a hint of the quality within, but
you can safely mention Mitch Kashmar in the company
of the Wilsons, Clarkes and Estrins of that region.
One listen (and the constant replays since) merely
confirms that this is a little gem. Others are already
attaching a possible “Best 2005 Disc”
tag. Whether or not this does indeed provide the breakthrough
they were hoping for, if you do hear a better new
disc this year, for heaven’s sake send me a
copy! |
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