MITCH KASHMAR "100 MILES TO GO" Source: Washington Blues Society Date: 11/2010 Writer: Macolm Kennedy

In my book Mitch Kashmar is one of the biggest talents in blues today. His vocals are positively stellar, few vocalists come to mind that are even in Mitch’s caliber and his harp playing is equally superb. Check out his exceptional take on Willie Dixon’s “Long As I Have You” off his latest Delta Groove Music release 100 Miles To Go, one of three cover songs on this fantastic re-issue project, and you will hear what I’m talking about, oh and his upper register harp playing is the bomb too! Mitch and the Pontiax originally released this superlative set of 100% blues on vinyl back in 1988 on Blue String Records of Belgium. Although they were making some noise in and around Los Angeles back then including being a popular back up band for many of the blues luminaries who passed through. Had this project received the recognition it so richly deserved back then I think they would be household names like Cray and Vaughan. For the Delta Groove CD release Mitch has added two newly recorded bonus tracks “When You Do Me Like That (I Want To Do You Like This)” and “Petroleum Blues” a song all the more poignant with the recent disaster in the Gulf. The two instrumentals, “Lip Service” and William Clarke’s “Horn of Plenty” on which Clarke also adds harp, both stand out as does the stout shuffle of the title track. The band is tough throughout especially the fluid guitar work by Jon Lawton and Bill Flores. Mitch’s vocals shine on the horn fueled “Gonna Find Someone New” reminding me of Sugar Ray Norcia. Flores doubles on tenor sax and guest Jim Calire also adds tenor and piano to the track. Mitch’s gifted harp performance on “Walkin’ Downtown” is reminiscent of Mark DuFresne. I highly recommend that you get yourself a copy of 100 Miles To Go soon.