Aki Kumar - Don't Hold Back

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:36
Size: 120.4 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[4:09] 1. Judgement Day
[3:08] 2. Hoochie Coochie Coo (Feat. Rusty Zinn & Frankie Ramos)
[5:06] 3. Don't Hold Back
[4:06] 4. Buzzin' (Feat. Little Jonny & Johnny Cat Soubrand)
[4:08] 5. Let Me Get Closer
[3:11] 6. She Don't Want Me No More
[5:46] 7. Drifting Blues
[3:42] 8. Blue Baby (Feat. Bob Welsh)
[3:34] 9. I'll Get You Too
[3:56] 10. Wish Me Well
[4:00] 11. Freight Train (Feat. Vance Ehlers, Little Jonny & June Core)
[2:56] 12. The Mumbai Express (Feat. Kid Andersen)
[4:46] 13. Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Yeh (Feat. Lisa Leuschner Andersen)

Since Charlie Musselwhite planted roots on the West Coast decades ago, San Francisco has evolved into a hotbed of sensational harmonica players, most notably Rick Estrin, Mark Hummel and the late Norton Buffalo. But as most locals already know, there’s a new reed-bender in town, and he’s ready to make a name for himself on a broader scale.

Born in Mumbai, India, and only working as a musician full-time for the past six years or so, Akarsha “Aki” Kumar is the real deal if you love traditional blues harp with an extra dose of originality. As a teen, he studied keyboards and tabla (Indian drums) before picking up a tremolo harmonica, instrument commonly used in popular Hindi music. Now in his mid-30s, Kumar emigrated to the U.S. in 1996 to study software engineering, settling first in Oklahoma City before transferring to San Jose State University, where he earned a degree that landed him a job in the industry.

Aki’s love for the harmonica eventually lead him to the San Jose School of the Blues, where master instructor Dave Barrett quickly turned him onto to the works of Little Walter Jacobs, George “Harmonica” Smith and James Cotton. Kumar burst onto the West Coast scene in 2009, fronting one of the Bay Area’s favorite bands, Tip Of The Top. He now fronts his own tight ensemble and also does service with Little Jonny And The Giants.

Kumar makes his recording debut on this disc, which was co-produced with Chris “Kid” Andersen at Andersen’s award-winning Greaseland Studios. Joining him for the session is lineup that includes four of the best guitarists in the area: Andersen (who also adds keyboards, tabla and sitar), Rusty Zinn, Little Jonny and Johnny “Cat” Soubrand of the Terry Hanck Band. Blues Music Award nominee June Core and Vance Ehlers contribute drums and bass, while Frankie Ramos sits in on saxophone. Bob Welsh sits in on piano and Kid’s wife Lisa Leuschner Andersen backing vocals. ~Marty Gunther

Don't Hold Back mc
Don't Hold Back zippy

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