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MITCH
KASHMAR "WAKE UP & WORRY"
Source: Baltimore
Blues Society
Date: 11/2006
Writer: Bob Sekinger |
With
the release of last years “Nickels &
Dimes,” Kashmar was nominated for a BMA
for “Best New Artist.” This follow
up is even stronger and should firmly establish
Kashmar as one of the country’s leading
harmonicists. It opens, as it should with any
West Coast harp band, with a swingin’ shuffle
featuring a muscular harp tone, “I Got No
Reason.” Two of Little Walter’s better
know tunes show up, “Dead Presidents”
and “Up The Line,” both with James
Calire handling the crucial baritone sax. I would
have sworn that the Latin flavored original “Green
Bananas” would be a Louis Prima penned tune
before being clued in by the lyrics that reference
Burger King. Most of the other originals are all
strong shuffles with the exception of “Funky
Dee” which is..um, a funky take off from
a head lick and sounds like it should be a cool
teevee show theme and “Black Dog Blues,”
where Kashmar drives a riff backed by National
Steel and just a touch of percussion. “The
Waddle” is the obligatory instrumental feature
for his harp, although guests Rusty Zinn and Jr.
Watson get plenty of time to shine. Former Funk,
Inc. bandleader Bobby Watley contributes and sings
a soulful lead for another departure from the
shuffle norm, “I’m Sorry” a
jazzy tune featuring John Marx’s guitar
with fills from Kashmar’s chromatic. Delta
Groove head honcho Randy Chortkoff wrote, sings
and adds a second harp to the Jimmy Reed style
“You Dogged Me.” Best party cut is
“Half Pint-Of-Whiskey” featuring a
full time party in the background. You might get
woozy just listening. This song was penned by
one of the best drinking song writers, Rudolf
Toombs. Keep it coming Mitch! |
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