Innovative Blues at SJCT July 18

Albert Cummings plays SJCT on Saturday – Contributed photo

The blues aren’t often associated with the North, but Massachusetts native Albert Cummings is breaking the mold. The blues guitarist brings his talents to San Juan Community Theatre on Saturday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m.

As a child, Cummings learned the requisite three chords on the guitar from his father, but then switched to playing banjo at age 12 and became a fan of bluegrass music. When he heard the early recordings of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Cummings returned to the guitar with a new outlook and resolve.

It was not until he was 27—an age when other musicians were either already established or had long ago put their dreams aside for the realities of life— that Cummings finally decided to go for it, soon sharing a bill with Double Trouble, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan’s rhythm section.

He now has six studio albums under his belt and will release his latest, Someone Like You—produced by Grammy-winner David Z (Buddy Guy, Prince, Jonny Lang, Gov’t Mule)—later this summer. “Albert Cummings writes, plays and sings the blues like nobody else.  What a blast to watch him jell in the studio with some of the best musicians in Los Angeles,” said Z.

In addition to his own solo gigs, Cummings has opened and toured with many legendary acts, including Johnny Winter, Sheryl Crow and B.B. King.

The Business Partner for the evening is Kings Market. Tickets are $25 for adults; $12 for student reserved, with $5 student RUSH at the door. The SJCT box office is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or buy online at www.sjctheatre.org.

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