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MITCH
KASHMAR "WAKE UP & WORRY"
Source: Bad Dog Blues
Date: 09/2006
Writer: Jeff Harris |
Harmonica
ace Mitch Kashmar has been a presence on the California
scene for the past 20 years and finally saw some
national attention with his 2005's fine Delta
Groove debut "Nickels & Dimes."
"Wake Up & Worry" is a potent follow-up
and should garner Kashmar even more acclaim.
Born in 1960, Kashmar was still in high school
when he began playing with local bands in his
native Santa Barbara, CA. By 1980 he was leading
his own band, The Pontiax, and after relocating
to Los Angeles in 1985, established a strong reputation
on the club and festival circuit throughout southern
California. Kashmar has cut at least two records
prior to 2005's "Nickels & Dimes"
but it was his Delta Groove association that really
raised his profile, earning him a "Best New
Artist Debut" nomination by the Blues Music
Foundation and a load of positive press. "Wake
Up & Worry" finds Kashmar backed by an
all-star combo and stretching out in new and exciting
directions.
Once again Kashmar is supported by a terrific
ensemble that includes a trio of great guitarists
in Junior Watson, Rusty Zinn, John Marx plus Hollywood
Blue Flames alumni Fred Kaplan on piano and Richard
Innes on drums. There's a distinctively swinging,
retro West Coast vibe here featuring some stellar
ensemble work. Kashmar has a big, distinctive
harmonica tone and is an engaging, laid back vocalist.
"I Got No Reason" kicks things off in
shuffling, swinging fashion, while "Wake
Up & Worry" and Night Creeper" are
solid mid-tempo groovers as Kashmar stretches
out with some powerhouse, but never showy blowing
and delivers a dead on Jimmy Reed feel on the
loping "You Dogged Me" with duel harmonicas
from Kashmar and Randy Chortkoff. "Black
Dog Blues" has a sparse down home feel with
Kashmar backed by just the stellar national steel
of Alastair Greene. The album really cooks on
the sizzling party atmosphere of "Half Pint-A-Whiskey"
and the knockout instrumental "The Waddle"
both featuring stunning, fuzzy guitar from Watson
with the latter featuring some of Kashmar's best
harp work.
Since their intial releases in 2004 the Delta
Groove label has emerged as quickly emerged as
one of the best blues labels around spotlighting
great West Coast talent like the Mannish Boys,
The Hollywood Blue Flames, Kirk Fletcher, Rod
Piazza and others. The label has another winner
in Mitch Kashmar who, with the label's help, should
go on to big things. |
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