It’s time to laud a new record company, Delta Groove, which since 2003 has released a series of uniformly excellent albums. Praise goes to founder, producer, and harmonica player Randy Chortkoff, who with his cohorts appreciates and purveys authentic and tasteful blues.

The Mannish Boys is a group of underrecognized Southern CA musicians with experience and musical wisdom: guitarists Kirk Fletcher and Frank Goldwasser, singer Finis Tasby, pianist Leon Blue, bass player Ronnie Weber, and drummer June Core. Abetted by lauded guest artists such as Paul Oscher, Roy Gaines, and Mickey Champion, the Boys lay down a tasty set of mid-tempo tracks which are short on narcissistic flamboyance and strong on ensemble coherence. Tasby’s vocals are smooth and evocative. Fletcher and Goldwasser alternate leads, limiting themselves for the most part to short but pithy and creative solos. Blue and the rhythm section are solid throughout. The emphasis is on the songs, not the artists. Like the Hollywood Blue Flames, another under-recognized So. CA blues band, this group honors the blues tradition by carrying it forward faithfully and expertly. A stellar disc!

Kirk Fletcher’s solo-labelled album features Tasby and Weber, along with such other luminaries as harp wizard Kim Wilson and recently “arrived” chanteuse Janiva Magness. A mix of blues classics with a few originals by Fletcher and Wilson, the disc is characterized by the same respect for down-home, honest renditions. Since Fletcher doesn’t sing, Magness and Wilson carry the vocal load with skill if not wide range. The only flaw in the album is a lack of emotional force: it fails to plumb the depths of blues despair or hit the heights of danceable manic joy. However, its sturdy chops make for pleasurable listening.

Mitch Kashmar, former Santa Barbaran and former lead singer and harmonica player of the Pontiax, has hit those emotional heights with “Nickels and Dimes.” This album represents a high point in his career so far and a feather in the cap of Delta Groove. Kashmar, backed by guitarist Jr. Watson, Weber on bass, renowned drummer Richard Innes, and several impressive guests, sings powerfully and soulfully, and his harp playing is outstanding. Watson provides superb support throughout with incendiary but always tasteful guitar licks. Kashmar wrote half of the songs, which range from the humorously erotic (“Show It to Me”) to the doleful. This disc is getting national play and praise, and with good reason: it’s one of the best U.S. blues releases in the last year. Mitch, you go, boy! Make Santa Barbara proud!