MITCH KASHMAR "NICKELS & DIMES" Source: Positively Entertainment & Dining Date: 02/2005 Writer: DJK

It was a Summit Meeting of the highest order; order of harmonicas that is! On, Saturday night, Jan. 28, five of the west coast's premier harmonica players met to perform a show devoted to nothing but blues harmonica.

At Portland's Melody Ballroom, the show was organized, promoted and hosted by Portland's very own blues harp master, Bill Rhoades. With such accomplished guests as Portland's chromatic genius Paul deLay and Los Angeles' incendiary Mitch Kashmar, the event showcased an incredible array of blues harp and blues music styles. The show featured harpists deLay, Rhoades, Johnny Ward, Mike Lynch from Seattle and Kashmar making a special trip from L.A. Backing up the harpists were Micheal Osbourne on guitar, Tom Szell on bass, Alan Hagar on guitar and Jeff Minnick on drums.
Rhoades talked about the concept of the summit show; "The whole idea is to have five featured harmonica players and an outstanding house band. They have to be able to play a lot of things. The featured artists get up and front the band for a set, then end up with a group blow-off jam. We're trying to show the great harmonica players in the area and provide a great night of entertainers. Just an old time R&B show."

Along with Rhoades hosting the show and doing his set, each harpist performed their own set. deLay played with his usual technical virtuosity and Rhoades brought out his own gritty, boogyin' style. Perhaps the highlight of the show was Kashmar's positively grinding, downright evil-sounding harp work. Think of The Devil Went Down to Georgia fiddle solo done with a blues harp and you'll get the idea! He not only grabs hold and shakes the listener with his harp, but also with his earthy, growling vocals. The crowd immediately responded by filling the dance floor and didn't sit back down until his set was over.
Kashmar had this to say about playing in Portland and the Melody Ballroom; "I don't know if I've ever played a ballroom. I come from the land of stucco and plastic roof tiles in L.A. and they don't have beautiful places like this. I try to mix up the grooves and some catchy lyrics and I pay attention to the guy before me and try to go the other way. But I love these group shows. I've always loved Portland. It's a great mixture of industrial and old world. It's such a change from Los Angeles." He mentions his new CD release Nickels and Dimes on the DeltaGroove label; "The new CD's got a gang of great players and it's got great ingredients. I just had six or seven ideas and we pulled off a miracle of sorts. But I'm proud of it!

Kashmar will be out on tour in Belgium and Norway over the summer. He also has his own band The Pontiacs and is the front man for the Junior Watson Band. You can see more of Mitch Kashmar at www.deltagrooveproductions.com .

The show climaxed in a five-man blow-off jam with everyone up on stage. It was a fitting end to a groovin', boogyin' harmonica party night.