Published in the April 27 – May 10, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Mark Fenichel
Mark Fenichel
Some of the best Chicago-style and Delta-style blues will be happening right here in Morgan Hill Saturday night April 30. The GVA Cafe will be hosting an evening of true blues with some of the heaviest hitting blues musicians in the Bay Area. The Aki Kumar Band is always a treat to see and Aki often changes the line up and invites special guests just to keep it interesting for the audience and for himself. This will be no exception.
Akarsha (Aki) Kumar is an accomplished harmonica player, singer and frontman who came from Bombay, India, (now Mumbai) and is a rarity among blues harp players, being the only known pro harmonica player from India. He is a bonafide star among the next generation of West Coast blues artists inheriting his style and sound from American harp legends of the ’50s and ’60s such as Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson II. He performs vintage blues with tremendous skill and energy while adding his unique vocal style to his awesome harmonica playing and frontman antics. Aki is truly making a name for himself in the blues scene worldwide.
I became acquainted with Aki about 17 years ago over lunch with his then teacher and mentor David Barrett (a Morgan Hill resident) who owns School of the Blues in San Jose and is one of the most prolific harmonica teachers in the world.
Even though Aki was only studying blues harmonica for a short time he was, at that time, Dave’s top student with an uncanny ability to quickly absorb the proper techniques and phrasing needed to speak the language of the blues through his harmonica. I was certainly flattered when Aki told me he saw me performing at an art and wine festival and was moved to purchase what was to be his first harmonica CD. From that moment on we have become good friends and “music buddies” and have played together at jams and at his shows countless times. Aki’s backing band has some strong players including seasoned veteran guitarist and vocalist “Little Jonny” Jon Lawton on guitar and vocals. Young Southern California based blues phenom Big Jon Atkinson who will likely be on guitar but is a great harmonica player in his own right and a fine vocalist as well as an accomplished bass player and drummer. On upright and electric bass will be Dave Chavez, a clean playing, smooth bassist from the South Bay area. And on drums — Arhoolie recording artist Pete Devine from the band Howell Devine.
Aki currently runs two very successful blues jams including his Tuesday jam at The Mojo Lounge in Fremont and his very popular Thursday jam at Little Lou’s Barbecue in Campbell.
If you like the blues, you are going to love what Aki Kumar and his band will bring to Morgan Hill. The show is free and goes from 7 to 11 p.m. All ages are welcome.
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On another note, live music will be on the streets in downtown Morgan Hill from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday April 30 for the Downtown Association’s annual Wine Stroll. Musicians include singer-songwriter Aprylle Gilbert, Lambert Malloy, Marcus Miller and Tom Drake. Tickets are $35 in advance, $45 on the day of the event (while supplies last) and can be purchased at participating businesses or online. Ticket includes wine glass, tastings, a coupon booklet, food samplings and a raffle entry. www.morganhilldowntown.org.
With a name like The Dead Ducks, you might want to check out their first time appearance at The GVA Cafe Friday May 6.
If you have a music tip send it to me at [email protected] and you may just see it right here.
