Aki Kumar's Bollywood Blues w/ Matthew Skoller & Tom Holland – Logan Center, U of C, Chicago, May 29, 2026

Review: Glenn Noble

Photos: Jennifer Noble

L to R -- Tom Holland, Rome Yakilov, Matthew Skoller, Aki Kumar, Randy Bermudes

Aki Kumar's Bollywood Blues w/ guests Matthew Skoller and Tom Holland

Logan Center for the Arts Performance Penthouse, University of Chicago, Chicago

May 29, 2026

By Glenn Noble/ Photos: Jennifer Noble

With its “Blues@Logan” strand, the Logan Center for the Arts under the directorship of Bill Michel, continues to present exciting and distinctive events due in large part to the remarkable programming of well-known harmonicist and curator Matthew Skoller.

Known for introducing new and fresh blues talent from around the U.S. to Chicago audiences, Matthew tonight reached across not just the country but to the subcontinent of India to bring an exotic taste from a native of Bombay – now a resident in the San Francisco Bay area -- harp player and singer Aki Kumar.

Aki wasted no time in identifying his blues inspirations, opening with a Chicago classic “Baby Please Don’t Go” which revealed a full, mellow harp tone. Complementing the lead, some sinewy lines were drawn from the Gibson Flying V wielded by guitarist Rome Yakilov. In addition the fluid, swinging rhythm section boasts a fine pedigree, bassist Randy Bermudes being a Fabulous Thunderbirds alumnus; and drummer June Core, having started his career with legends Robert Junior Lockwood and Johnny Shines, and latterly with Little Charlie Baty, Rick Estrin and the Nightcats.

Continuing the Chicago vibe we were entertained next by a familiar “Killing Floor” rhythm, albeit with vocals in Hindi. Despite the language barrier, or perhaps because of it, the raw, gutsy feel of Howlin’ Wolf came through strongly and more full-throated harmonica work made this number a muscular invocation of the spirit of the Wolf! Time now for the first of Aki’s own compositions, “It Is What It Is” was a slow blues that provided a platform for an enthralling display of harmonica technique - powerful draws and bends, playful dynamics and great breath control with long sustained notes - and excellent interplay between harmonica and guitar captivated the audience and earned a rousing round of applause.

Taking a turn for the more unusual now, a cover of a song identified as a big hit in India from 1972, a funky number called “Kathmandu”, which served to let Aki more fully express the Bollywood side of his performance. To digress for a moment, “Bollywood” is a term used to describe the Indian movie industry based in Bombay (Bombay + Hollywood = Bollywood). It's a huge industry and a major part of Indian (Hindi language) culture. Bollywood movies are noted for melodramatic, emotional appeal, vibrant music and dance scenes and large scale productions.  Imagine if “Ben-Hur” had been an MGM musical at their Technicolor brightest and you get some idea! With this background, Aki’s performance -- full of rhythmic energy, theatrical expressions and balletic dance moves -- made perfect sense and enraptured the whole audience.

The usually stoic Randy Bermudes seemed lost in the music too. The spirit was definitely on the band with this song! Following this excursion into Indian flavours a little further, the next number began with Aki leading the audience in an Indian handclapping cadence, taking us “Back To Bombay” before landing us back in traditional 12 bar blues territory, complete with a good old steam train rhythm ending.

Time to switch the line up a little as Aki and Rome made way for Chicago’s own Tom Holland and Matthew Skollar to take the front line. “The Devil Ain’t Got No Music” exclaimed Matthew, and the audience were happy to agree. Demonstrating his distinctive harp tone in a fierce, piping burst Matthew was clearly in a mood to give Aki a straight fight for harmonica kudos this night while Tom worked his left-handed magic with some tasty slide guitar.

Refreshed by the break, Aki once more laid out his Chicago calling card with “Hindi Man Blues” a joke which any fan of Junior Wells would get, following up with a more recent tune “Should I Stay or Should I Go” from that well-known British blues band The Clash!  Returning back to Bollywood, we were invited to sing along to a Louis Prima-style number from a legendary Bollywood actor named Kish Kumar. Fortunately the lyrics, as Aki explained, were gibberish in Hindi, so not knowing the language was no handicap to the singalong!

One more Bollywood songbook, a noir-ish ballad- and it was time to bring Tom and Matthew back up for a grand finale. “Green Card” from Matthew’s Blues Immigrant album kicked off the final act - a song very apropos and filled with Matthews sharp observations on the state of the world.  One more time Aki and Rome returned to the stage to take us out with a whole-hearted rendition of  Snooks Eaglin’s “Who’s Lovin You Tonight”. 

Well, it would have to be said that the Logan Centre audience were loving Aki Kumar this night: the engaging, theatrical and charismatic performance cut through any issues of language, and the love and appreciation of Chicago’s finest musical exports was plainly there for all to see and enjoy. It is to Matthew Skoller and the Logan Center's credit that they are able to bring such interesting and unusual performers to Chicago and give the blues audience a taste of how their favourite art form has affected other parts of the world. Namaste!

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