Aki Kumar: Diwali Celebration

Mumbai-born vocalist and harmonica master Aki Kumar is a visionary artist, blending traditional Indian music with a singular brand of Chicago blues, known as “the only Bombay Blues Man.” He makes a stop at the Joe Henderson Lab to help commemorate the Hindu Festival of Lights with a joyous program of celebratory music.

In a story that almost sounds like a movie plot, Kumar left India and moved to Silicon Valley in hopes of working as a software engineer, but upon hearing American blues, his life changed forever. Fully immersing himself in the blues scene and culture, Kumar paid dues in the Bay Area’s clubs, fully assimilating the art form with the goal of being seen as a “legitimate” blues artist, when he realized he was denying the influence of his own heritage. This sea change was evident on Kumar’s 2014 debut Don’t Hold Back, but was truly apparent on his 2016 Little Village Foundation release, Aki Goes to Bollywood, fully blending Bollywood pop and traditional Indian elements with the blues.