CD Review
Albert Cummings
From The Heart
(Under The Radar - UTR2709)
by Dave "Doc" Piltz
Review date: January 2004
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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Albert Cummings has quickly become one of the hottest blues commodities in the Northeast United States with his blistering guitar and sound approach to the blues. Cummings has admitted to a number of influences in his musical development, from B.B. and Albert King to Brian Setzer. These varying influences reveal themselves to the listener on From The Heart. One bonus to this fine recording is the addition of the talented tandem of Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton (a.k.a., Double Trouble) providing a strong backbeat for Cummings guitar and vocals. When Shannon and Layton first heard the 33 year old carpenter from Williamstown, Massachusetts, they were so impressed by his work that they offered to produce From The Heart, also contributing a song, "Barrelhouse Blues," to the effort. In the process, they also convinced the talented "third" member of Double Trouble, Reese Wynans to join them on the recording. According to information found on Cummings web site, this marked the firs time the talented trio had joined together to back another guitarist since the tragic death of Stevie Ray.
Happily, what Albert Cummings offers the listener on From The Heart is not an attempt to "clone" the work of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Instead, Albert provides is a collection of eight original songs with just three covers interspersed through the recording. Along the way, Cummings demonstrates a nice degree of versatility in his work including blues rock, blues, pop and sweet ballads. On songs like the original opener, "Your Own Way," Cummings offers a driving rock song, complete with stinging guitar. On the following number, "The Long Way," Cummings successfully conjures up images of the Crosby, Stills & Nash classic, "Long Time Gone," sans the harmonies of CSN. On "Tell It Like It Is," Cummings and friends take a firm hold on some Texas honky tonk blues. The gradual crescendo opening and B-3 dominated backing on "Together As One," offers a pop laden influence that is reminiscent of the mid-80's sensation Mr. Mister, who dominated the radio waves with their biggest hit, "Broken Wings".
Cummings hits the blues hard with the burning original by Shannon, Layton and Doester entitled "Barrelhouse Blues." Cummings vocals on this song are heartfelt and emotional as is his powerful guitar. The Texas feeling returns on "I've Got Feelings Too," where rock n' roll meets Texas honky tonk. Cummings does an excellent job on his rendition of the Freddie King hit "Living On The Highway Now," written by Don Nix with excellent vocals and some tasty guitar. The band's funkified version of B. B. King's classic, "Rock Me Baby," take on a different feeling from the original, making more personal for Cummings. The CD ends with the most personal song of all, "Beautiful Bride," a song Cummings wrote for his wife.
To find out more about this talented guitarist and songwriter or to pick up a copy of From The Heart, visit Albert Cummings website at www.albertcummings.com or the Under The Radar musci group website at www.utrmusicgroup.com.
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