Albert Cummings

Guitar disciples of Stevie Ray Vaughan can be found in large numbers. One who can boast the late guitar legend's own rhythm section as admirers and colleagues is another matter. Quite likely it was Albert Cummings's individuality as much as the SRV influence that grabbed the ears of Double Trouble partners Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton. As often as Cummings's play will emit flashes of Stevie Ray, the Massachusetts-bred axeman's muscular musings will take their own very personalized turns. Add a song list of varied moods and pipes several cuts above your typical white-boy blues shouter, and the result is a performer who seems to be approaching critical mass, famewise.

Originally a devotee of bluegrass god Earl Scruggs, the now thirtysomething Cummings changed musical religions shortly after moving from banjo to guitar. His growing rep in the Northeast led to a gig with Double Trouble, which itself spawned the production of Cummings's 2003 release From the Heart. The sessions, which also included keyboard man Reese Wynans, constituted Double Trouble's first post-SRV work behind another guitarist. Cummings sounds every bit the worthy frontman, turning out yards of serious soloing, not dependent upon his backup band's signature shuffles, but not shy of them either. Expect some serious onstage voltage.