[Harp-L] Re: Mitch Kashmar

[SONNYTONE@xxxxxxx]

I always have plugged "my boy" Mitch, those who listen to him have to take  
notice that his top register playing is what stands out even more than his  
originality and taste all around. NO one in the world resonates the top reeds,  
especially the 7 blow, with such sweetness. They are all tongue blocked, I know 
 many of you out there play all TB, lots of power to you, I am still working 
on  the 10 bend, but have found a vibrato puckering to get close to Mitch. He 
is one  of those players that with blues you don't know what is going to come 
out next,  that is a true mark of an artist. Straight up he is one of my 
favorites, yes he  has been my friend for over 25 years and can sing his butt off 
too, Dave Barrett  and I both just sit in the audience and smile when he plays 
those high notes.  Anyone on the west coast that has heard him live please 
jump in, Kas has been  struggling as a musician all him life and is too good not 
to be noticed. After I  taught him how to tongue block way back then I was on 
the phone with him just  last week for tips on how he physically does get that 
sound. Some are coming out  Friday, I hope to give first position some 
justice. Mitch took off with all  tongue blocking since that day in the park in 
Santa Barbara, I continued to do  Sonny style pucker and tongue block Chicago. Now 
with help from Dave my TB has  become a major portion of my playing and I am 
able to spend the 2 - 3 hours  practicing, shutting off half my brain each 
time and just doing TB, or just  Pucker. The lighter the touch, with some mouth 
adjustments from Dave, is the  only way to get LW's style, just a piece of 
breath, too much time spent with air  on a note and it's wasted. Like LW said in 
that interview, something like, I  just capture the air in my hands and make it 
float. That he did. Please get  Nickels and Dimes or go out and support Mitch 
when he gigs, he is going to  Holland, probably there now, for his usual 2 
week thing, usually with Rick  Holstrom. 
Amen Danny on Filisko, I was perhaps too gruff in my response. Anyone  who 
has a Filisko harp, and Joe can't get to it, here is the email of my new  
builder, Joe Spiers, the time it takes to truly tune a harp back right is worth  
whatever he needs to charge, whether it's 30 bucks, I don't know, but it's hours  
and hours, they have to let them sit, then retest and tune, but Spiers has it 
 down, he can bring your Filisko back to life. _moparjoe@xxxxxxxxxxxx 
(mailto:moparjoe@xxxxxxxxxxx)   Tell him Sonny  sent you. We take for granted now 
what Filisko did for us, pioneered a new  beginning to a sad stock instrument 
which made up all better. I have tried  to do my part with amps, and trust me 
guys, I am not living in a mansion, those  who have come to see the SJ "factory" 
can attest to that. Cost is so extremely  high to build, quality first, 
always. The Sonny Terry medley solo part of  Friday's show will be pieces of songs 
that work into the next. 
Worried Man long way from Home _ Down by the Riverside_ John Henry_ Corina  
Corina - then to Mean woman blues with crowd participation, and then the ST  
whooping the blues tribute with train. About 15 - 20 minutes. See you there. Of  
course it is probably going to snow.