Aki Kumar – God Bless The USA
First, one should ignore the CD cover art & remember this: Aki Kumar is a viable & surprisingly good blues artist. Don’t believe me? Listen to his blues version of The Clash’s classic “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” Everything works. The barrelhouse piano, the feel, the genuine bluesy ambience.
What matters is that the tunes are soulful with no accents or appropriation at all. Aki is splendid. He has mastered the blues better than most in clubs throughout America. The Pete Fazzini guitar slash that’s whipped out on Aki’s original “A Plea To Be Free” is Steve Cropper hot.
They’re not Muddy Waters, B.B. King or John Lee Hooker, & shouldn’t be. These people play an original blend. No imitation. The songs penetrate. There are 13 marvelous pieces of music in God Bless The USA (Drops June 13/Little Village/48:48). Aki applies a tight, creative approach to Willie Dixon’s “I Just Want To Make Love To You.” Filled with atmosphere, percussion & performed unlike any version ever heard – but it’s still the blues as it’s meant to be.
Even his take on “It Is What It Is” is another circuit run through Fazzini’s guitar. Aki (lead vocal/harmonica/bgv/percussion) produced his showcase, & recorded it in San Jose, CA. If he’s managed anything with finesse, it’s a sound that’s entertaining. His Paul Butterfield harmonica burst honks along on his other original “Jarvos Woman.” The addition of some echo to his voice gives the tune a vintage juke joint tint. One hot number. Bar-none.
This music, despite its blues tradition, is innovative without deviating from its origins. “Desi Strut” & “Harp Tuah” are sizzling instrumentals with muscle (a Desi is slang for people from India/South East Asia). Don’t let this deter your blues expectancy; these are sweet performances.
Aki’s magical doo-wop tune “Time Will Tell” also includes an interpretation of the American musical genre & adds his language for color. It works. A marvelous guitar solo by Bob Welsh paints with broad strokes across this arrangement. The backup vocals — stunning.
A straight pop song with a blues harmonica comes with the well-sung “Thoughts & Prayers” & his version of the classic “Man of Constant Sorrow” with its backup vocalists — a jewel. The only misstep is the cover, since it doesn’t convey the mastery Aki possesses. The above image would’ve been far better.
Highlights – “Should I Stay Or Should I Go,” “A Plea To Be Free,” “I Just Want To Make Love To You,” “Jarvos Woman,” “Desi Strut,” “Time Will Tell,” “Thoughts & Prayers,” “God Bless The USA,” “It is What It Is,” “Man of Constant Sorrow” & “Harp Tuah.”
Musicians – Bob Welsh (guitar/piano/bgv), Pete Fazzini (guitar/bgv), Randy Bermudes (electric bass/bgv), Kedar Roy (upright bass), June Core (drums/bgv), Rome Tamilov (guitar/bgv), Tony Stead (organ), Vicki Randle (congas/tambourine), Julia JD (bgv/harmonies), Jim Santi Owen (tabla/khanjira), Will Marsh (sitar) & Jack Sanford (sax).
Color image courtesy of Aki’s website gallery. CD @ Apple & https://akikumar.com/album/3418590/god-bless-the-usa-full-album-2025 & https://littlevillagefoundation.com/aki-kumar-god-bless-the-usa/
