MITCH KASHMAR "100 MILES TO GO" Source: Blues Forum Date: 08/2010 Writer: Marcel “De Schuur” Schuurman

100 Miles To Go is the re issue of the 80’s album recorded by Mitch Kashmar’s band at the time:The Pontiax. Listening to these recordings you wouldn’t say thanks to the fresh and lively production.

Kashmar, a bluesharp player and singer extraordinaire who earned his credits  backing up such legend as Big Joe Turner Lowell Fulson and Peewee Crayton, already shows his talents as a musician here.

Even if this wasn’t a re issue this would be an album that can stand it’s ground with it’s infectious blend of Westcoast Jump, Jazz, Chicago and funky soul blues.

Awesome tracks from the Jimmy Reed like opener “Night Creeper” to the swinging jump of the title track en the Kim Wilson like instrumental “Lip Service. Everything sounds as fresh as if this was a last weeks recording. Another highlight for me is the instrumental “Horn of Plenty” and plenty do we get with this call and response between Kashmar and the late William Clarke.

Closing this album are two bonustracks that were recently recorded with the Pontiax. A nice feature that shows that things haven’t changed!

Mitch Kashmar is one of the top bluesharp men around without needing endlessly distorted bluesharp solo’s, but remains ever tasty with an awesome vocal delivery and stunning band to lead the way.

Hats off to Delta Groove for re releasing this album: a textbook example of a good bluesalbum.