Little Village Foundation artist: Aki Kumar - God Bless The USA - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, God Bless the USA, from Aki Kumar and it's cool. Opening with a Chicago style take on Joe Strummer's Should I Stay made popular by the British punk band, The Clash. With a low slung guitar rhythm by Bob Welsh, June Core on drums, and Kedar Roy on bass this track takes form. Aki Kumar on vocal and harmonica really fleshes out the track with Welsh on piano and Julia JD on backing vocals. Very cool. Willie Dixon's I Just Want To Make Love gets an incredibly out of the box rework with Jim Santi Owen on tabla, Welsh on guitar, Will Marsh on sitar, and Kumar on vocal, harmonica and vocal. Really interesting barely touches it. A reggae/funk workover on Neville Brothers' Sissy Strut now remade as Desi Strut is great with Kumar taking the lead on harmonica and Owens and Marsh providing the basics of the backing with Welsh on guitar and Core on drums. Oh Yeah...it's cool! One of my favorite tracks on the release is It Is What It Is, Chicago styling, Morganfield influenced blues with Kumar on lead vocal and harmonica. Pete Fazzini sits in on lead guitar on this one getting that metallic, Morganfield slide tone down pat. With Roy on bass, and Core on drums, this track hits the spot. Rocker, Hard To Get, sounds like it's from a beach movie from the 60's with it's characteristic guitar (Welsh)/ drums (Core) feel and Jack Sanford on sax working the track under Kumar's vocals. Don't miss Welsh's flashy solo on this one. Wrapping the release is shuffle, Harp Tuah giving Kumar a wide open land to play. With Welsh on guitar, Bermudes on bass, Core on drums, Tony Stead on organ and Welsh on piano, this is a strong closer for a real cool release. 

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