ALBERT CUMMINGS: Believe (BLUES): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Albert Cummings is a quiet guy. Discreet and patient. He has been building his blues career as a bluesman for over twenty years alongside his work as a carpenter. Always with a piece of wood in his hand, on stage as well as on the construction site. On stage, he expresses himself with his favourite tools, the Fender Stratocaster, which he admires without limit. Not surprising for a guitarist who fell in love with Stevie Ray Vaughan's playing in his youth. In fact, his very first solo album, "From The Heart", released in 2003, was produced by the Double Trouble, the rhythm section of the Texan genius. Since then, Albert Cummings has been charting his own course and has gained recognition from his peers, if not from the general public. It will perhaps come with his seventh opus, "Believe", which is being released by Mascot, a great first for the American.

"Believe" starts off strong, with a cover inspired by the Sam & Dave classic 'Hold On'. Generous horns, gospel choirs and a tense guitar solo, the track offers a great introduction to the world of Albert Cummings, between soul and blues. The album ends just as well with a funky version of Freddie King's 'Me And My Guitar', with a sharp guitar sound and a perfectly mastered groove.

And in the middle, stuck between these two successes, flows an extremely classical blues river, well interpreted but without any real added value. The album alternates covers and original tracks. The production is very clean, too much to highlight the blues soul of Albert Cummings. The covers of Willie Dixon's 'Red Rooster' or Van Morrison's 'Crazy Love' are good examples of a work so neat that it becomes bland. The same goes for the songs composed by Cummings himself, which illustrate an assumed but rather vain classicism ('Queen Of Mean', 'It's All Good', 'Going My Way'). Only 'Call Me Crazy' is really good thanks to its catchy riff and dissonant solo, proof that Albert Cummings knows how to get out of his comfort zone when he wants to.

"Believe" is a neat soul blues album without much originality. Although Albert Cummings' talents as a singer and guitarist are obvious, he still has to show his blues soul to finally stand out from the pack of gifted bluesmen and show the public his real personality. Taking a little more risk would be a good start to achieve this. - Official website

ALBERT CUMMINGS

BELIEVE

MASCOT LABEL GROUP

BLUES