MITCH KASHMAR "WAKE UP & WORRY" Liner Notes by Scott Dirks

Mitch Kashmar’s stock skyrocketed after his 2005 Delta Groove debut, “Nickels & Dimes.” Kashmar’s powerhouse vocals, sophisticated yet gritty harmonica playing, and imaginative material earned him a “Best New Artist Debut” nomination by The Blues Music Foundation. He’s played throughout North America and in Europe, winning new fans at every stop. Since the release of “Nickels and Dimes,” Kashmar has been lavished with an almost embarrassing amount of praise in publications around the world: “…an acknowledged harp-meister…compelling vocals…unreservedly recommended…” (Blues in Britain); “…an eye for some wry one-liners…wields a mean pen…there is genuinely not a bad track…if you do hear a better new disc this year, for heaven’s sake send me a copy!” (Blues & Rhythm); “…conviction and authority…blue collar grit and sardonic wit…one of the best harmonica albums of the past 10 years…” (Blues Revue); “There are few singers and songwriters on the Southern California blues scene better than Kashmar…it should move Kashmar to the front ranks of the blues world… indispensable.” (Living Blues); “Wow! Mitch Kashmar, where have you been?... From first cut to last, it’s a brilliant, must-have disc.” (Edmonton Sun); “…an instant blues classic…” (The Courier)…and that’s just scratching the surface

In 2006, Kashmar joined forces with The Mannish Boys as a front man on several high-profile gigs. Additionally, he was a featured star of the Delta Groove Blues Revue’s concert at the historic New Daisy Theater on Beale Street in Memphis, which took place in conjunction with the 2006 Blues Music Awards.

On "Wake Up & Worry,” Mitch Kashmar continues to evolve as an artist. He moves in interesting new directions with fresh songs like the funky jazz-inflected instrumental "Funky Dee", and the moody late-night number "I'm Sorry." On “I’m Sorry,” Kasmar steps out of the spotlight and backs legendary organist Bobby Watley's B-3 and vocals, and John Marx’s jazzy west coast guitar. Kashmar finds fresh inspiration and new angles in the material of the masters by taking on Little Walter's often-overlooked early 1960’s singles "Dead Presidents" and "Up The Line." But it's on his excellent original material that Mitch really shines. The title track, "Wake Up & Worry," stands up to any blues number written by any of the old masters of any era. "Black Dog Blues" resides in that brief but important musical pocket between the end of World War II and the dawn of the "Chess years" c. 1950, when the country blues was getting pumped up, but hadn't yet been completely plugged in. Here Kashmar shows his deep understanding of the elemental roots of the music without which nothing that comes after really matters. There's plenty here for fans of the West Coast blues as well. The swinging "I Got No Reason" and the title track prove that Mitch stands second to none on the West Coast – or anywhere else for that matter - when it comes to the swingin', harp-led blues. "You Dogged Me" features Rusty Zinn's loping guitar and Randy Chortkoff stepping in on harp and vocals, and could pass for a long-lost Jimmy Reed track from the heyday of the Vee Jay label. And if you close your eyes while listening to “Half Pint-A-Whiskey," the song takes you to a steamy Saturday night juke joint thanks in part to Junior Watson’s spare but propulsive guitar work. Add in a quirky sense of humor and a sly wit, as evidenced on the Latin-tinged original "Green Bananas" and others, along with deep-chested blues vocals that sound natural, unforced, and unlike anyone else on the scene today, and you've got one of this generation's most complete blues artists. So sit back & enjoy – and leave the waking up & worrying to Mitch Kashmar.